My Month of the Holy Rosary Motto: The Family that Sticks together, Stays and Prays Together

Thursday, 13 October 2011 23:20

Written by Aaron Benedict De Leon

Many seem to forget, but October is the month of the Holy Rosary, a month of special devotion to the Virgin Mary. But what seem to be different from the Octobers of the yesteryears are the painful reminders that come along with the celebration.

Recent occurrences like the devastation brought about by Pedring and Quiel, and alarming news about teenagers committing suicide or even killing each other seem to make us ponder more on the moral fiber our society has today.

I could never overemphasize the timeless importance of prayer, and Filipinos, I feel, do not lack any time for prayer or even for devotion. But as the famous saying goes, “Nasa Diyos ang Awa. Nasa Tao ang Gawa.”

This is reflective as well of the Filipino’s sense of dependence to authority, either to government, the religious leadership, media and God. I feel like we’ve grown complacent over the fact that somebody can do the job for us. I hope we can all get through this “third-world mentality.”

True, these institutions play an important role in shaping our society today, but what is given to them really is the role to prevent and deter a culture of bad habits. They are not the agencies responsible for the creation and formation of the value system of an individual.

Perhaps, some of us lack the introspection, or the reflection to realize, that what we are today, mostly comes from our upbringing, which really happens inside a home. A home is not just a place where furniture and equipment are housed, but where people live, where a family resides.

From the moment a baby is brought of the hospital, till the time one grows into finishing education and even beyond, it is the family’s responsibility to nurture and develop his whole-roundedness. The parents or the family does not act on a single capacity just to provide for the financial needs of the individual.

This is the notion that has not only destroyed and tore apart families, but has cost lives of many young people. Even those who did not survive during the typhoons did not have families with them in their respective homes.

All of these occurrences reflect the intactness of our societal institutions, particularly our families. I refuse to put the entire blame on higher institutions for typhoon deaths, because they can only do so much as far as mitigation is concerned. The institution which should be best prepared for times like these, are families. I refuse to put the entire blame on higher institutions for the successive killings and suicides, because it is the family which should be first responsible in monitoring and guiding the growing consciousness of the individuals within its scope.

We must outgrow this welfare state of mind that everything shall be provided for us. The most important thing that the modern world is showing us is that our vigilance and consciousness should also match the growth of our technology.

Children are more vulnerable now to accessing internet sites that are supposed to be for mature audiences only, and parents should always be informed of these trends. Parents should not excuse themselves for reasons that their early childhood or adolescence did not capture these experiences. Technology is for everyone, and not just for youngsters.

With climate change and global warming upon us, we cannot conform to normal SOP’s or standards being released by the government when it comes to storm signals or even cancellation of classes. Parents should exercise discernment and extreme concern for the members of its family, even if they have to temporarily leave work just to ensure everyone is safe and in good hands.

Parents and families should always exercise caution, but should always give some space and freedom for individuals and children, to explore the world beyond their watchful eyes.

I personally also think that companies should not be slave drivers, and should give more lenience for their employees to spend time with their families. We must outgrow this industrial way of thinking, and focus more on the productive capacity of each worker so that he/she can accommodate more time for his/her family, first and foremost.

At the end of the day, what the Holy Rosary has taught us is that “the family that prays together, stays together.” Today, however, our moral consciousness dictates that we must go beyond this notion if we are to develop more responsible citizens and family members in our society today.

We must not depend on good fortune that if we pray, our prayers shall always bear fruit based on our expectations. We must learn how to trust prayer and more importantly, build a solid core, with our families, that will trust and rally around what the power of prayer can do, with the faith and confidence that God shall always make the best decision for us, regardless if it is in accordance with our personal expectations or not.

We must place the highest premium on building a culture of action, more than building a culture of dependence and endless expectations.

Today, I say, that the “Family that sticks together, stays and prays together.”