"Does it not strike you as a surprising fact that Catholic parents so often [not surprising in these days where this is the norm] urge their children to do what is asked of them from merely human motives and that everything about their homes tends to nourish ambition and luxury?  They tell them how such and such a man of obscure birth has made himself famous by his eloquence [or sports ability, good looks, or goofy reality show stunts] or has acquired great riches and has married an heiress, that he has built himself a magnificent house and lives envied by all.  Such examples are held up [more like forced upon] to the children, but the parents never think of talking to them of those who are great in the kingdom of heaven [ah, we'll leave that up to the priest on Sunday...].  If anyone else tries to speak of these things, the parents stop them as though they would spoil everything by such talk. [...just as long as the priest doesn't challenge us!]

There are mothers who take great care of their daughters' health [and appearance...] but little of their conscience.  Far from forbidding them foolish and even bad books, indecent dresses, undesirable friends, indecent pictures, plays [movies], and dances [and immodest, unladylike sports], they allow them these things and even sometimes force them on their children.

Do not such parents know that spiritual fornication is a crime among Christians; that a look may kill a soul and that a desire or thought is enough to rob children of innocence and grace?  [emphasis mine...pretty important point!]

Some mothers think that when they have brought a child into the world they have no further duty toward it.  They hand it over to a nurse [or daycare] who may pass on her own bad inclinations to the child with the milk which nourishes it.  From the hands of a nurse the child passes into those of a governess or tutor [or worse, a public or Catholic school!], who has perhaps been chosen without the parents' knowing if the person is good or bad! [I don't think the background check covers that - even in Catholic schools]

Yet marriage was instituted and is blessed only that children may be brought up in the fear of God.  If only parents would take the trouble, what could they not do for their children!"  [of course, this assumes parents are first open to life, and then actually open to parenting!]

On the education of children  -  Saint Claude de la Colombiere
comments in red - mine

"The lesser of two evils."  It's a phrase bantied about in politics, education, business, ok, well in just about every aspect of life.  This phrase is used to justify just about anything that might go against my ideas and philosphy of life, but seemingly demands a decision.   I use the word justify loosely, for is there really any justice in choosing an evil?

As men we are constantly bombarded with decisions that demand a response.  The challenge for many is to see that there may be more than just the two options presented...there may be a third way.  Although many may think I am refering to politics, lets take a real life scenario that may be presented to a father in a properly patriarchal family: sports.  What is a father to do when deciding how much his children will be involved in sports?

One might see that there are two options, either my children play in organized sports or they do not.  If they do, that means practices and games which may conflict with family meals and religious observances.  If the children are not involved in sports, well, they may be deprived of the physical outlet for excess energy and the learning experience of playing on a team.  These two options are all many parents will ever consider.  But wait, could there be a third or fourth option?  

Let's face it, many of us just don't put the effort into thinking through these things until we learn that our child learned some new four letter words or worse yet, was exposed to some evil on a peer's cell phone while traveling with the team.  We seem to be more concerned with being perceived as overprotective or controlling by other parents than holding a true standard of goodness in our homes.  God forbid that our child would be deprived of the great learning experience of playing tee-ball!!!

So what is a father to do?  The decision always has to start with our eternal goal in mind.  What benefit is this to my child's soul and eternal salvation?  What is the effect on the child's soul by opting out?  The next step is to face our own insecurity and baggage - Why do I want my child to play midget football?  Why do I feel like I am neglecting my child's welfare by choosing to not enroll him in the local soccer league?  While this sports discussion is just an example, this decision making process goes for most every decision related to my family's welfare.  Do I make decisions for the eternal good of all or am I earth-bound and making decisions based on worldly concerns?

Of course, the really hard part is facing the consequences of our decisions.  Am I seeing my college-age child distancing himself from the faith because of his sports performance anxieties?  Am I able to embrace the cross of children playing around the house, rather than farming them out to some volunteer soccer coach?  

The following is a quote that really convicted me that the sin I commit doesn't just affect me...it also affects my children.  As I am duty bound to raise them in the saintly virtues and in the faith, I am also required to give them good example and protect them from "evil company".  How does this quote hit you?  This is a quote from Fr. Goffine's book, "The Church's Year" - a must have for every family!

"How do parents give scandal?
By giving their children bad example; by excessive anger, cursing and swearing; by avarice, injustice and cheating; by discord and quarrels; by gluttony in eating and drinking; by extravagance and vanity in dress; by sneering at religion, good morals, etc.; by not keeping their children from evil company, but sometimes even bringing them into it; by not punishing and endeavoring to eradicate their children's vices.  How much parents sin through such scandals, cannot be expressed; at the Day of Judgment their children will be their accusers!"