[Aquinasfan]

A large percentage of American young men are only sons. Many of them are only children. In the old days when a family had three or four or five sons, one son going off to war or to the missions was less heartrending.

Good point. I would have liked to have had a large family, but we only have two girls. Still, I tell them that the most important decision they will have in life is choosing between the religious life and marriage. It tears me up because, on the one hand, I'd love to have grandchildren. OTOH, I'd love to see them serve the Church as religious. The Christian life is a life of sacrifice, not selfishness.

[frogjerk]

It tears me up because, on the one hand, I'd love to have grandchildren.

Don't worry. If they choose the religious life they will have many spiritual children and save many souls. And this is wonderful.

[wideawake]

My pastor likes to say that, in a worldy sense, there's no one deader than a dead priest since he leaves no family behind.

Therefore he exhorts all Catholics to remember deceased clergy in their intentions eve3ry day.

[Elsie]

The Christian life is a life of sacrifice, not selfishness.

Amen!