Some fathers are real saints

* Abraham, aged 99, enters into a covenant with God, who promises Abraham innumerable descendants through his wife Sarah, who was old and barren. She bears a child, who is named Isaac.

According to "Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Catholic History," "Abraham's fidelity and obedience to God were such that he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. As heir to the promises made to Abraham, the Church numbers herself, with the people of Israel, as among the spiritual descendants of Abraham, who is our father in faith."

* Joachim, and his wife Anne are traditionally considered to be the parents of the Blessed Mother. According to Catholic Online, little historical information is available on Joachim and Anne. However, Catholic Online states that "it was their teaching that led [Mary] to respond to God's request with faith. It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand by the cross as her son was crucified and still believe. Such parents can be examples and models for all parents." The feast day of the Parents of Our Lady is July 26.

* Joseph may be the most well-known saintly father in the Church. Considered to be the foster or adoptive father of Jesus, he raised Jesus as his own child. Indications that Joseph treated Jesus as his own child can be found in the Gospel when the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22).

According to "Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Catholic History," Matthew's Gospel narrates the birth of Jesus from Joseph's point of view, with Joseph receiving a revelation from an angel concerning the virgin birth of Jesus and the escape to and return from Egypt.

Joseph was also present for important events in Jesus's childhood. He witnessed the birth of Jesus, was present for His circumcision, and searched for Jesus while He was missing.

The Gospels also indicate that Joseph was a carpenter of limited means (Luke 2:24).

According to Catholic Online, "We know Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He planned to divorce Mary according to the law, but he was concerned for her suffering and safety. He knew that women accused to adultery could be stoned to death, so he decided to divorce her quietly and not expose her to shame or cruelty (Matthew 1:19-25). We know Joseph was man of faith, obedient to whatever God asked of him without knowing the outcome."

Historians believe that Joseph died before Jesus' public ministry began.

St. Joseph is patron of the dying because it is assumed that he died with Jesus and Mary with him; he is also patron of the Universal Church. He has two feast days, March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.

* Augustine of Hippo is considered a Father of the Church, but he was also dad to Adeodatus, an illegitimate child born to Augustine's mistress before his conversion. After it, he was the author of 113 books, 218 letters and 500 sermons, and bishop of Hippo from 395 until his death in 430.

According to Catholic Online, Augustine, whose feastday is August 28, is patron of brewers "because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break."

Other saints that were fathers include:

* Gordian, father of St. Gregory the Great and husband of St. Sylvia;

* Symeon, father of St. Sabas of Serbia (also known as St. Sava.) Symeon, a former king, established the monastery at Khilandar along with Sabas. The monastery became the heart of Serbian cultural life;

* Thomas More, patron of lawyers. Thomas More was married and father to three daughters and a son. When his wife died at a young age, he remarried that same year in order to have someone to care for the children. He was beheaded by King Henry VIII of England for refusing to render allegiance to the King as head of the Church of England.

(06-17-99) [[In-content Ad]]