by Father Garesché, Your Neighbor and You, 1919
To LOVE and do good to one another, that is, after all, a very great part of what we are to accomplish here in this world. And to do us justice, we are usually willing enough to help and benefit our neighbor, if only we see a practicable and present way.
Half of those who do next to nothing for other folk, act so because they think of nothing to do. But tell us what is to be done and how to go about it, and you shall see some hearty workers indeed.
Now there is a great deal of very useful talk nowadays about various apostleships, and the word “Apostleship” in this connection, usually means nothing else than a way of doing to our neighbor some spiritual good.
Some of these are for the rich, like the Apostleship of Endowment; some for the learned or the talented, like the Apostleship of the Written Word; others(and those the most interesting), are for any one and every one among us, like the Apostleship of Prayer, or the Apostleship of Speech.
We have said something already, very briefly, about the second of these apostleships, that of frank, kindly and familiar speech upon Catholic subjects and Catholic views and beliefs, with those who come within our everyday circle of influence and appeal.
We are all of us constantly talking to one another, discussing, inquiring, replying, exchanging opinions and ideas. And so, we said, any one of us needs only to throw into his daily talk some genial, honest, interesting words of Catholic truth, to become at once a real apostle, that is to say, a messenger, a herald of Catholic Ethics and Faith.
Now let us descend a little into some of the special forms which this Apostleship of Speech may assume and some of the special opportunities it may offer us, and it would be well to begin, where charity does in the proverb, right at home.
Fathers and mothers, big brothers and big sisters, I wonder how many of us realize the power we are constantly using for good or ill, the influence of our daily speech at home.
We boast sometimes that “home” is one of the most tender and meaningful words in our English tongue. We declare that many other languages have no real equivalent to convey all the wealth and warmth of loving thought and memory, of kindly, generous feeling which stirs in us at this holy syllable “home”.
To have a happy home is, we rightly think, an unspeakable blessing. To lack a home, for man or woman or child, is a capital and dire misfortune. “A man’s home”, according to the old English saying which we have made our own, “is his castle”, his secure retreat, a kingdom of comfort and of cheer, a little stronghold of affection and interest and kindly sympathy against the rude buffets of this selfish and unfeeling world.
We know, too, when we reflect on the matter, that home is a little commonwealth, where each one has his part to play for the well-being of the whole.
Mother and father have, to be sure, a paramount influence; but everyone down to the youngest child has his share in making or unmaking the peacefulness and holiness of home.
In what way is this influence most often and most effectively exerted? To be sure, by our daily and common speech!
What is hastily said at breakfast, or slips from us as we pass about the house, or is discussed at the family dinner, or chatted about around the evening lamp, or mooted in the parlor — this most perhaps of all, makes or mars the peace and happiness and holiness of our home.
For in these chance remarks, these off-hand conversations and familiar, cozy talks, we throw off countless little hints and coruscation, so to speak, of our most inward and intimate selves. We reveal our sudden thoughts and impulses, we show our desires, our principles, our aims, all, whether it be good or ill, that we have been cherishing and fostering and brooding over for years and years.
These things leap out, sometimes in a tiny sentence, sometimes in a single word like little sparks of goodness or of wickedness, and kindle fires of good or evil in our hearers’ inmost heart. The doors and windows of their hearts are all thrown open in the summer air of trustfulness and love, and our flying words blow in easily for weal or woe.
And this goes on, not for an hour or a day, but for all the long months and years of the familiar intercourse of home. No wonder then that we influence one another by our daily speech of words and actions; for actions, too, are a sort of speech and often carry our meaning very much better and more easily than words.
Parents sometimes feel deeply distressed when they see, growing in their tender children, the lineaments of their own shortcomings and sins. They will put on a very serious expression and take Mary or Tom aside to warn him earnestly against letting that evil habit gain upon him.
Do they hope that one official warning so ceremoniously given will stand for a moment against the long, quiet talk and action of so many years?
“Don’t, for Heaven’s sake,” they will say, “get into that ugly way of criticizing people!”
But has not the lad heard you for years dwelling on the faults of your friends? Can one brief gust of studied sermonizing avail to sweep away that heavy and brooding cloud of innumerable and daily acts and words?
It is worthwhile, then, very, very much worthwhile, to give some care and thought to how we may carry on this Apostleship of the Home.
And this should weigh on us all the more because of the circumstance that we will all be either apostles or perverters there. Abroad, one can fight shy of company and keep pretty much to himself, not doing any one so very much good or harm.
But it is not so at home. Here we must all be constantly taking sides and influencing our little sphere for good or ill. Talk we must, act we must in the presence of every one, and not to talk and act properly and holily and well, is to be talking and acting badly, doing our share to mar the sanctities of our home.
“A woman’s role is supportive, and she is to be her husband’s helper, confidant, counselor if need be, friend and one of his greatest allies. You should be more than willing to make your man feel important, appreciated and admired.” -Helen Andelin
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Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making jewelry or rosaries by hand.
Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent.
Because of this technique for wrapping wire around itself this craft is called wire wrapping.
Not only is it quite beautiful but it makes the rosaries sturdy and durable.
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Fr. Garesché shows you how to become an apostle for Christ in myriad ways, not only at home among your family and friends, but even at work. Youll learn how to talk about religion with your friends as naturally as you discuss sports or current events. He even gives you tips on how you can bear witness to your faith in Jesus Christ not just in what you say, but in what you do.
Lent is fast approaching! Easily the most popular and best-loved Way of the Cross ever. Traditional, edifying pictures. The Stabat Mater in Latin and in English.
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If you want to make progress in the spiritual life, you can’t afford to miss the bracing insights in this handbook for souls who yearn to be kinder. They’ll give you years of solid help in overcoming sin so that you’ll live more fully with others and truly transform your corner of the world!
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