The observance of Fathers Day goes back a long way, as far back as the fourteenth century. It first began in the Catholic Church on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. The purpose of Fathers Day was to honor the contribution of all men, single and married, to the build-up and protection of families. This celebration was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America. It is still observed on March 19 in many Latin American countries, and in several European countries though many countries in the Americas and Europe have now adopted the U. S. date, which is the third Sunday of June.

In the United States of America, Fathers Day is of relatively recent origin. There have been many failed attempts in the U.S. at establishing Fathers Day in the early part of the twentieth century. The most successful attempt was by a Spokane, Washington, woman who had heard a sermon in Church on mother’s day in 1919 praising the virtues of motherhood. Her thoughts wandered to her father ( a civil war veteran ) who singlehandedly raised her and her five brothers after the death of her mother. She quickly approached the minister of her Church ( Old Centenary Presbyterian Church ) with the idea of a special day to honor fathers and with the zealous support of the mayor, the third Sunday in June was set aside as a day to honor fathers. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Fathers Day. Six years later, Fathers Day was made a permanent national holiday in the U.S. when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

The spirit of fatherhood encompasses many things. George Washington is called the father of the country because of the sacrifices he made to give birth to the United States of America. We also recognize that a priest or minister is a spiritual father because of the spiritual and moral qualities and direction he brings to the community of faith to which he belongs and for which he is responsible. Today’s tribute to fatherhood will focus on the remarkable blessing and vocation of those biological fathers who have given us birth and provided us with guidance during the early stages of our lives, especially.

A father of a family has an extraordinary vocation to resolve many tensions and trials in the home in order to pave the way for good relationships. His spiritual and moral character is the key to supporting the family entrusted to his care, in good times, and in bad.

The greatest contribution a father can make to his family is, surely, his love of God, our Father in Heaven. A father must be willing to communicate this love by rising above self-seeking to care for his wife and his children, even when it hurts. A recent study conducted by Cornell University found that the average American father spends only 37.7 minutes a day with his children. Spending time with the wife and children tells them that you feel they are more important than your job or anything else in your life.

The effectiveness of a father depends, ultimately, on the grace of God. God gives the power to be a successful father because the qualities a father passes on to a child are primarily spiritual and moral. To put food on the family table every day, to keep the children healthy and safe, to affirm a child and build up his or her self-esteem, to overlook the inexperience of childhood, to forgive, to respect freedom, to keep on living without giving in to anger or retaliation, to guide and discipline by example, these are qualities of a wonderful father who is fashioned in the image of God. How could we not be most grateful for such remarkable love in our lives?

Let us pray and give thanks for all fathers today.

— Fr. Hugh Duffy