Feast of the Holy Family

O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.  We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  This is the prayer from the opening of today’s Feast of the Holy Family Liturgy.  As we reflect this day we may be making resolutions for the year to come.  Let us take a moment to pause and ponder the “Holy Family” for a few moments.  If you were to ask a room full of people to define the word family I strongly doubt that “Holy” would be included in any of the descriptions.  We would hear words like nuclear, dysfunctional, household, clan, etc.  Yet today we celebrate just that a “Holy Family” – Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  No other family claims that title in sacred Scripture.  There is very little written in Scripture about Jesus’ early life.  So as we prepare to welcome a New Year later let us take the time to pray for the grace to practice the virtues of family life, live with the bonds of charity and be filled with joy, hope, peace and love.

Pat Schifini, OSU