The Hunter and His Son ~ Plain Talks on Marriage

From Plain Talks on Marriage by Rev. Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M., 1927

A man who had long given up the practice of his holy faith had a son of about fourteen years of age who had just received his first solemn Communion with sincere piety.

The father was very fond of him.

Shortly after the boy’s first solemn Communion the father accosted him one Sunday morning, saying he should get ready, for they were to go out together to hunt all day.

The boy replied; “Papa, I must go to Mass first.”

At this the father seemed to be peeved, and he rejoined: “Oh, you need not go to Mass now anymore; you are getting old enough to have more liberty.”

Now the boy appeared hurt, and asked: “Papa, does not the Third Commandment say: ‘Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath Day?'”

“Third Commandment, nothing,” answered the irate father; “that does not mean anything.”

The boy gravely looked up at his father and said solemnly: “Papa, if the Third Commandment does not mean anything, then the Fourth Commandment which says: ‘Honor thy father and thy mother,’ does not count either. If I do not have to honor God, I need not honor you.”

At this utterance the father grew pensive. He feared if he would not relent, he would lose his hold on his son. He therefore said cautiously: “Well, maybe it is better that you go to Mass; and I will go with you.”

He continued to accompany his son to Mass ever after to his own and the family’s welfare and happiness.

The reason many Catholic parents lose out with their children and have no sway over them is often because they themselves disobey God and ignore his authority.

“If God’s authority means so little to them,” the children argue, “why should my parents’ authority mean anything to me?”

A Catholic couple shows the fear of the Lord by receiving the sacraments worthily and often. They would dread to take the chance of doing without the heavenly food of our Lord’s Body and Blood for too long. They go frequently, if possible; even every day.

They not only approach the holy rail themselves, but they see to it, that all the members of the family communicate often. Their example alone will usually be a sufficient factor to bring this about.

There is something deeply powerful about a parent who quietly lives what he asks of his children.

Children notice inconsistencies far more than we realize. If prayer is treated lightly, if Mass is constantly pushed aside, if God’s commandments seem optional when they become inconvenient, children absorb that lesson long before they are old enough to explain it.

But the opposite is true as well.

When children grow up seeing their parents make sacrifices for God — getting up for Mass when tired, remaining faithful in difficulties, praying even during busy seasons of life, speaking reverently of holy things — it gives weight and meaning to parental authority. It teaches children that obedience is not merely about rules, but about love, humility, and recognizing a higher authority above ourselves.

Often the strongest sermons in a home are never preached aloud. They are simply lived day after day in ordinary faithfulness.

A father kneeling beside his son at Mass…
A mother quietly fingering her rosary after a long day…
Parents who continue striving after holiness despite their weaknesses…

These things leave impressions on a child’s heart that may last a lifetime.