In the life of husband and wife together, fatherhood and motherhood represent such a sublime "novelty" and richness as can only be approached "on one's knees".
Interpretation
Parenthood is a profound experience that demands humility and reverence.
This quote by Pope John Paul II reflects the deep and transformative nature of parenthood within the context of a marital relationship. It suggests that the roles of fatherhood and motherhood are not just ordinary responsibilities, but rather sacred experiences that can only be fully appreciated through a posture of humility and devotion, symbolized by the act of being 'on one's knees.' This emphasizes the need for love, dedication, and a sense of awe in raising children.
In practice
In a speech about family values, one could quote this to emphasize the importance of parental roles.
True freedom is not advanced in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with license to do anything whatever and which in the name of freedom proclaims a kind of general amorality. It is a caricature of freedom to claim that people are free to organize their lives with no reference to moral values, and to say that society does not have to ensure the protection and advancement of ethical values. Such an attitude is destructive of freedom and peace.
Like so many pilgrims before us, we kneel in wonder and adoration before the ineffable mystery which. was accomplished here... In This Child - the Son who is given to us - we find rest for our souls and the true bread that never fails - the Eucharistic Bread foreshadowed even in the name of this town: Bethlehem, the house of bread. God lies hidden in the Child; divinity lies hidden in the Bread of Life
And everything else will then turn out to be unimportant and inessential except this: father, child, and love. And then, looking at the simplest things, we will all say, Could we have not learned this long ago? Has this not always been embedded in everything that is?
Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.
Man matures through work which inspires him to difficult good.
United with the angels and saints of the heavenly Church, let us adore the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Prostrate, we adore this great mystery that contains God's new and definitive covenant with humankind in Christ.
You cannot escape the fact that women mould your first five years, whether you like it or not. And I can't say I do like it very much.
I love every minute of fatherhood, staying up all night, changing nappies, kids crying, I find it really funny and inspiring. It connects you to the world in a new way.
Your success as a family... our success as a nation... depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house.
We cannot fashion our children after our desires, we must have them and love them as God has given them to us.
I've often said that the most important thing you can give your children is wings. Because, you're not gonna always be able to bring food to the nest. You're... sometimes... they're gonna have to be able to fly by themselves.
I think the hardest thing about making music now is being a great dad at the same time. There's an insanity that goes with writing - a mad scientist thing that you have to go through - and sacrificing a kid's upbringing to do that is not an option.
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