If Catholicism is true, then it is true for everybody…even babies. Or perhaps especially babies. My son, though he’s only a toddler, is a regular theologian. By his actions and, more and more, by his words, he reinforces the truths of the faith for his parents.
For example, a few months ago, he began doing something awfully cute when I would kiss him goodbye before leaving the house. After I kissed him, he would immediately point to his mother. Then he would wait, only smiling after I had done his bidding and kissed her goodbye as well. Cute? Certainly, but not merely so. This adorable action is fraught with meaning concerning the nature of marriage and children.
The Church reminds us that marriage has a twofold purpose: the procreation and education of children and the mutual good of the spouses. My son was reminding me of the latter. My wife’s good must be a priority in my life. We are to love one another here on earth and help each other get to heaven. However, he was also calling me to fulfill my duty with regard to his education, for the example we parents provide through our daily actions will be far more influential than our mere words. By loving my wife and demonstrating that love through deeds, I am, in a quiet way, giving my son his first lessons in Christian manhood. That is a powerful and humbling thought, especially as I sit here thinking of some of my recent failures on the domestic front. You see, I’ve never suffered from scrupulosity when it comes to keeping a tidy home, but for some reason my wife hesitates to applaud my balanced approach to chores. My frequent appeals to the story of Mary and Martha have even failed to move her on this point. Oh well. Come to think of it, if the boy ever points to the dirty dishes lying unwashed in the sink or the books and papers strewn about the house, I’ll know who put him up to it.
That said, I am not so naïve as to think that my baby tells me to kiss his mother solely for our benefit. He is human after all. And, of course, self-interest has its way of creeping in. I’ve heard it said that the most important way to be a good father is to love the mother of your children. By pointing to his mother, my son was, in effect, saying, “Okay, Papa. I know you love me. But don’t forget to love my mommy.” As I grow older, the beauty of the Church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality grow ever more apparent, but my son, though still in diapers, seems to recognize that beauty instinctively. Perhaps this is an example of what Christ had in mind when he said that we must become like little children. Maybe we adults have forgotten more than we realize.
Then again, maybe our little theologian just wanted a baby brother or sister. If so, his plan worked. Aidan now has a little brother named Brendan.
John Moorehouse is the editor of Catholic Men’s Quarterly, a new magazine for Catholic men. Visit the magazine’s website.
(This article first appeared in The Catholic Lighthouse, the diocesan newspaper of Victoria, TX and is reprinted here by permission of the author.)
