The Book of Blessings (Catholic Book Publishing Co. l989) has a blessing for Father’s Day that reads:
"God our Father,
In your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless these men,
That they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
May honor them always
With a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord."
I have been behind in my blog entries these past few days due to the fact that I spent Father’s Day Weekend in Springfield, Illinois, with my parents. At that time, we admitted my mother to hospice care at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Our family is very grateful for all of the support and prayers. At the same time, as I sat with my parents in the hospital, and spent time with my father -- who sits with my mother -- I wanted to dedicate this prayer to him. Over and over, Dad’s faithfulness to his family and country has been evident in all ways. He is an example of faith and love for all of the Vann’s: for the two or three jobs he worked to support his family; for his care and involvement in our parish (he was one of the first lectors at St. Agnes and used to schedule the "commentators" as they were called at the time); and for his love and care for our country, which came from his service in the South Pacific during the Second World War. His love and care for my Mom has always been so evident, and they are ever more so as he sits with her in her room at hospice at St. John’s Hospital. I thought you might enjoy these pictures of Mom and Dad.
