JUNE 15, 2008

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a "father's day." She thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a farm in eastern Washington state. After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.

( http://wilstar.com/holidays/fathers.htm)

FATHER’S DAY BLESSING

God our Father,

In your wisdom and love you made all things.

Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.

Let the example of their faith ad love shine forth.

Grant that we, their sons and daughters,

May honor and respect them always

with a spirit of profound respect.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Blessings, Catholic Book Publishing Co. 1989 p.. 732)