Bl Eurosia Fabris Barban: Large Families are the Best

 

Today we read about Blessed Eurosia Fabris Barba in the book In Caelo et in Terra. She is the patron of discernment and of large families. You can read more about her here.

When she was young, she thought God called her to be single, and she rejected many marriage offers. But then she met a man with many children whose wife had died. She discerned again, and after much prayer felt that God was calling her to marry the man and become the children's mother. Then the two of them went on to have NINE MORE CHILDREN! How wonderful.

Today the world tries to tell us that children are a burden. That the world is overpopulated and that it's irresponsible to have ANY children let alone lots of them. That it is expensive and difficult to have children, and life is much happier and fun if we don't.

But God still calls us to have lots of children. Not everyone, of course... many would love to have kids and can't. Many have one or two and then can't have more. But God gives us a great blessing in our children, and when we CAN have large families, that should be the rule rather than the exception. People who grow up in huge families will tell you that even though the family might have been "poor" in the world's eyes, they were rich in love. 

And that's the kind of rich we get to take with us into eternity.

God, thank you for your servant who taught us that discerning Your will is important, and large families are wonderful. Bl Eurosia Fabris Barban, pray for us.