Setting The Record Straight

The account of “The Patriarchal Family” in Human History” by the famous Catholic historian Christopher Dawson concludes that without enough fathering a culture always dies in a few decades. It is almost too late to reverse the demographic collapse of families in Western culture and the end of our civilization. What happened to our Dads? Yet we must not despair. When we look back it becomes clear that the revolutionary Christian marriage vows reformed the patriarchal family structure. This is the way back. These vows dedicate spouses completely to each other, while honoring Dads as the indispensable foundation of moral authority in a marriage and thus in society.

What happened to our Dads? Where did they go? How did Dads lose their honored status in the Christian family described in the Bible? Are Dads at fault or were they chased away from their children? We might find part of the answer when we consider the natural families of other advanced mammal species. New scientific studies have indicated that the Father is the most important foundation of a family. Are we a matriarchy or have Dads been replaced by a Super-Dad; a Patriarchal government using the power of welfare, public schools, media, and free health-care?

Astonishing Louis IX was one of God’s great gifts to the entire world as a model of wisdom, virtue, and temperament. He was the real life embodiment of the legendary wise king described in many religions. He commanded the largest army ruled the largest and wealthiest kingdom, and led the European centre of arts and intellectual thought. In wartime he displayed genius as an innovator in the art of military logistics and wise strategy. He courageously fought at the front of every battle. In peacetime his compassionate character led him to introduce a humane legal system and to spend time listening face to face to the common people, defending them against nobles when necessary. Beggars were fed from his table, he ate their leavings, washed their feet, ministered to the wants of the lepers, and daily personally fed over one hundred poor.

“Merrie Old England” is an accurate description of the good times of the 13th Century. People had refined manners and open hearts. Troubadours sang of idealized love. Chivalry ennobled men and protected women. Secular life was clustered securely around the Catholic Church’s monasteries, universities, and hospitals. Intellectuals abounded. Communities were small so a lot of laws and administration were not needed. The secular guilds were democratic organizations that cared for their member’s earthly needs from the cradle to the grave. There was very little poverty. There were old age and disability pensions, and even insurance of all types.

Universities are a natural invention of the Catholic Church. They are one of the many beneficial gifts Catholic Culture showered on the world in the 13th Century - The Age Of Illumination. The universities had a larger number of students that they do today. They were administered by democratically elected student fraternal organizations, not by the professors. There was an academic freedom so liberated that it puts to shame our modern politically correct university communities. As a result the 13th Century University provided a safe home for an unmatched concentration of great scientists, philosophers, theologists, medical doctors, legal experts, artists, writers, and musicians. Though it was 250 years before printing, anyone could borrow the numerous hand-copied books from university lending libraries, even the gloriously illuminated ones. It was a time of intelligence, sacredness, trust, happiness, and sublime earthly works.