by Fr. Tommy Lane
From the 1400s it was popular for artists to paint pictures of the Holy Family. A few centuries later, devotion to the Holy Family began to become popular when Cardinal Laval in Canada appealed to families to assume greater responsibility in the Church due to the shortage of French-speaking priests in Canada at that time. That part of Canada was a new French colony and the cardinal wanted to help the people’s faith. So, he gave his attention to the family by encouraging devotion to the Holy Family and asked fathers to ensure that prayer was an important part of every family. Every family was to be like a little Church and the father was to take responsibility. In 1921, Pope Benedict XV inaugurated a feast of the Holy Family every year, and since 1969 we have been celebrating it on the Sunday after Christmas. The feast’s origin among French Catholics in Canada shows us the importance of every one of our families. Every family is a little Church and family prayer is to be the center.
As we honor the Holy Family today, we might be inclined to think that they had it easy, or life was comfortable for them. The opposite was the case. Just by reading the Gospels, I could spend five minutes listing all the problems they encountered and had to overcome. Just two examples out of a long list are enough: when the time came for Jesus’ delivery, it took place in an animals’ shelter since Bethlehem was already so crowded, and then the family had to flee to Egypt as refugees because Jesus’ life was in danger due to Herod, in much the same way as refugees from war-torn countries are crossing borders now. Just like every family, the Holy Family had what we might describe as trials and difficulties, enough to list for five minutes. But they always placed God first. Mary said “Yes” to the angel Gabriel, and Joseph immediately did everything the angel asked him (Matt 1-2).
In that sense, the Holy Family is indeed a model for our families because they had many difficulties to overcome, and they overcame them by keeping God first. I think the first way to begin overcoming problems in families today is putting prayer back in the central place in the family if it is not already there. Prayer brings many fruits—if there is no prayer in the family, those fruits are missing. When the angels appeared to the shepherds at Bethlehem they sang about peace. We want peace in our families, a lot more peace in our families. Of course, acting responsibly, treating others with respect, and forgiving others foster peace but I think there is no true peace without prayer in the home. A sacred picture in a prominent place on the wall, or a statue or crucifix in a prominent place, is a beautiful reminder every day that God and prayer come first. Read some of the Bible from time to time. A good place to begin would be any one of the four Gospels. Read a paragraph or two and spend a little time reflecting on it and any implications for your life. The peace which the angels sang about to the shepherds is something God wants for your family. Putting God first and praying every day is the starting point for true peace. We are not just isolated families; we are part of God’s family because we are children of God since baptism, so prayer is part of the family.
I conclude with the prayer to the Holy Family at the end of the encyclical Amoris Laetitia (pdf) of Pope Francis:
Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love;
to
you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that
our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again experience
violence, rejection, and division;
may all who have been hurt or
scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of
Nazareth,
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and
inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Graciously hear our prayer.
Amen.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2021
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for Sunday in the Octave of Christmas
Helping our family 2023
With Mary and Joseph turned towards Jesus 2017
The Holy Family and our families 2015
The Holy Family: held together by love through all their challenges
God’s plan for the family: a reflection of God’s love
Related Homilies: The marriage of Mary and Joseph
Bear with one another charitably: love your children
The truly great ones of this world: those who love and serve 2015
What God has joined together man must not divide
stories about family