One of the hardest events most people who are married to a non Catholic will encounter is Sunday Mass. For those married to a non Catholic, I’m sure you will agree when your kids and you are getting ready for the Holy Mass, that seeing your spouse sleeping or deciding to do something around the house instead each week is challenging to you.
To have a spouse who is not on board with something that should be the center of your life is a shame. I can consider it a cross that i have to bear and that hopefully someday she will come to realize the faith of her grandparents.
I know that when my spouse comes to Mass and we attend as a family and watch our sons altar serve, there is a much different energy all week long. But, you can’t drag your spouse along. Your spouse has to want to come. It is not a good example if your spouse doesn’t attend Mass for the children. But they will soon be adults and realize one day for themselves.
The Father more than the Mother is essential to teaching the faith and young boys especially need good male role models in their lives. Witnessing kids attend Mass without their Father present is especially hard to watch. Most recently, I had a neighbor decide that he needed to cut the grass instead of attending his son’s Confirmation. I talked with the boy directly about it and he was quite emotional. These are all moments for us to lead and form our children for their future and their family one day.
We must take parenthood seriously and the role our faith plays is vital. It’s a good step that we are all on this forum as it shows engagement in the faith.
