From the Principal's Desk 3.24

From the Principal's Desk 3.24

Dear Friends,    Tomorrow begins the great season of prayer and self-denial - Lent. As a Catholic school we take the obligation of Lent very seriously so we will not be serving any meat in our lunch room on Friday's as well as encouraging fasting.  Why do Catholics speak of obligation so often?  We are obligated to attend mass, we must fast, abstain from meat, must confess our sins and so on.  Why not just say we get to go to mass, fast, abstain, confess etc.?   When we speak of obligation we recognize a reality; God supremely calls us and we must obey.  It is not so much an invitation as a summons.  For only when I recognize God's authority, can I appreciate His mercy.  I don't go to mass because of great homilies, or fine music, or comfortable seats (although I do not object to any of them) I go because God tells me I must.  When an earthly judge tells me to appear, I may not like the courtroom, but I must go.  I am under the authority of the court.   In much the same way, we start by accepting God's jurisdiction than something wonderful occurs.  We find out the judge, is our Dad, our Heavenly Father, who is prepared to show us mercy then we find out the command is really more like an invitation. We know that our children who obey simple commands, to clean rooms, speak kindly, do chores, are more likely to behave well when out with friends.  We are also aware of the converse.  If we want our children to be successful adults they must learn to obey right authority.  A final thought, not all of God's commands are difficult, all bring joy. In the old Robin Hood movie, with Errol Flynn, the final scene has Robin Hood holding Maid Marian's hand as the king commands them to marry.  Robin responds,  "May I obey all the King's commands with as much joy".  May the same be said by us to God. Happy Lent! Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 3.23

February 5, 2013                         FORTITUDE    Dear Friends, Why do some succeed and others, just as talented fail?  Often we find that it is the not the strongest or the smartest who win the day, but the one who has the most determination.  We can think of many examples of over achievers and the one unifying characteristic in them is today's topic.  Known by many names, diligence, grit, determination, discipline and several others it is the ability to do what we said we would do, with no exceptions or explanations.  Christian writers call it fortitude.  The ability to see a project through to completion regardless of the cost, pain, discomfort or inconvenience, the very nature of God Himself, as Christ demonstrated when at the Garden of Gethsemane, he stood and embraced Judas went to his death and never turned back. In His imitation, young, old, wealthy, poor, brilliant, challenged, male, female, people of every race, tribe and culture have given their lives through martyrdom both red and white.   Some have dedicated their lives to raising families, living out their vocations honorably, and working diligently their entire lives; others have suffered nobly, waited patiently, and all won gloriously.  Those who have succeeded in life are those who don't quit, who overcome the flesh and do what is right.  Is this a trait we want for our children? For ourselves?  I should hope so! Rudyard Kipling once penned a poem for his son about manly virtue. While the entire poem is an excellent read, there is a poignant stanza where he exhorts his son to be a man by saying "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew, to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you, except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!" This virtue, more than many others, does not have a moral component.  One can exercise great fortitude for evil as much as for good which is why it must be mated to a strong moral conviction.  For  virtue practiced in small ways, in the competition of homework, in training or chores, will lead to greatness and eventually if set to right, will lead to heaven. Duc in Altum! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411 p.s. Thank you very much for the prayers and cards regarding the birth our daughter, Alanna.  She and Mom are doing very well.  p.p.s. If you have any questions, comments, cares or criticisms please do not hesitate to send them in.

From the Principl's Desk 3.22

Dear Friends,

As I sit at my desk my wife is nearing the end of her pregnancy and we shall hopefully see our newest child very soon.  This serves as a poignant reminder as to the inherent value of a child, to the inestimable work of a mother and especially to the divine bond of love that is formed over the 9 months of carrying a baby.   Love, the selfless desire for the good of another, so sorely needed in this world, so vital to human life,   stands as the hallmark of mankind's imitation of God.  Not to be confused with passion, or lust, love can conquer all, even the evil of abortion.  The tendency to wrap love in carnations and chocolates, gifts and favors does not diminish its value if it occasionally obscures it, for love can come wrapped in gifts, or discipline or in the simplest of human actions;   the kiss of mother, the embrace of a child, the giving of one's life for a friend or a stranger and the discipline of a wayward son or daughter.

Love never fails, even when the relationship with your child becomes strained, even when wrong occurs, even in the face of evil.   We might fail, our actions may be loveless; God's love never fails, His actions are always full of love.  No matter the circumstance, no matter the sin, the wrong, the hurt, the loneliness, God's love remains.  He does not brood over injury, but rejoices in the truth.   If our children, our society, would learn to love, there would be no more abortion, no more murder, selfishness, or greed, and in its place would be a much better world.

To end abortion, we need prayer, we need to work politically but most of all we need to love.  For while someday we may get this hideous practice outlawed, it will only end when we can love each mother and care for each child.

"For Love is of God and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not does not know God, for God is love." ( 1:John 4:7-8)

May God have mercy on this land, growing under the weight of 55 million murdered children.

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School