Building Cathedrals

My husband sent me an encouraging blog post by Matt Walsh, defending the vocation of the stay-at-home mom!  Walsh's post was in response to an article posted on the website Thought Catalogue, titled "I Look Down On Young Women With Husbands And Kids And I'm Not Sorry."

Walsh, who was insulted on behalf of his stay-at-home wife, understandably responded harshly to the article.  He stated in his post that "the only cure for ignorance is truth" and that SAHMS are demonstrating truth by living it.  What are they living?  They are living love.

This led me to reflect on a profound recent statement said to my husband and I about our children and the vocation of parenthood.  We had a priest over our house for Spiritual Direction and upon complaining about our lack of ability to be as committed to service as we once had before children, he said "you are building cathedrals."

Building Cathedrals?  Yes!  Cathedrals take a lifetime to build and the builders put everything they have into the most minute details, despite the fact that many will not even notice the thoughtful odds and ends.  The Cathedrals are built to give glory to God and others are moved by a Cathedral that beautifully glorifies God.  Rarely does anyone know who built the Cathedral.  The years of effort, sleepless nights, worry, prayer, time and love are not considered in beholding the final product.  

I immediately thought of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the majestic heavenly experience you have upon entering it.  Within the Basilica is a Baldachin; a large sculpted bronze canopy over the high altar.  The Italian artist Bernini designed the magnificent Baldachin inside the great Basilica.  

Bernini left a signature of sorts on his finished work.  His own rosary, bronzed and imprinted in the base of the Baldachin would go completely unnoticed if one was not previously aware of it.  This faithful reminder of the prayer that went into his labor of love was more important to the artist than carving his name into the work.  

As parents, we are building Cathedrals with each child we raise.  Our many hours and labors may not be recognized in the process, but we do it to give glory to God in a final product that will eternally honor Him.  

Our name is not inscribed on the work, but hopefully the many prayers that went into the construction are bronzed in the foundation.