The Holy Family - a model

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Our Lady of Fatima revealed to Sister Lucia that the final battle the devil would wage would be against the Family. No surprise there!

It is sad for me to see how many youth today are being more drawn to their “smart phones” than to the spiritual values we find in the Holy Family. We cannot, of course, reproduce the culture of their times, but how close are we as persons to the spiritual value of loving one another, as Jesus loved us?

Where do children learn to love if not at home, where they can see a mother and father who love one another as well as loving each child they bring into the world. I heard a homily in which the priest celebrant said that too many have their eyes down to text instead of looking up. Well said!

Perhaps all of us need to look up to Jesus, Mary and Joseph and help children and youth see the values that can make both us and them holy as God is Holy. Our Lady of Fatima told the 3 children at Fatima to pray the Rosary for she knew that if they learned to ponder the Mysteries they would grow holy and she encourages us to do the same. I’d be interested to hear what some mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers may be doing to help their children, teens and young adults in their families to grow in holiness.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

I think Saint Joseph also appeared in the Fatima apparitions with the Christ.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for your quick reply, SammyRose,

Yes, St. Joseph did appear with the Child Jesus in His Arms, blessing the people. Chapter 18 in Sister Lucia’s book, "Calls" from the Message of Fatima is entitled “The Call to the Sanctification of the Family”. Sister writes what she thinks God wanted to say in this apparition.

It’s an excellent book if you’ve never read it. Sister writes simply and in a straight forward manner. She also shares much Scripture to help us appreciate the Truth in what she writes.

Can you tell me, Sammy, how you try to help your family? Did St. Joseph help you in a special way? Your thoughts may help others. I’ll give you two examples from my present role as Grandmother: I write to my teen aged and young adult granddaughters every week and send them quotes from scripture and/or pictures of Mary and/ or the Holy Family and try to encourage them to seek holiness. My husband and I also pray for our family every day. How about yourself?

I invite other readers as well to contribute their own experiences with helping their families to seek, and to grow in, holiness, especially with the Members of the Holy Family as their Models.

 

[OsculeturMeOsculo]

I don’t think I have done a good job in my devotions to Mary, and while I have thought about fostering one to Saint Joseph. The only problem is that I keep distracting myself with vain pursuits and I never get around to it. I don’t think I have done a good job with keeping my family together. Sometimes, when I am in a state of grace, we will go to mass on Tuesday and Adoration at the Blessed Sacrament. I think I will have to persevere a bit more in order to be do some good in my family and the Church.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Using a smart phone and following Christ are not mutually exclusive

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Sammy,

Thanks again for your reply and your honesty. I think many of us can identify with you on the fact that we may not be doing such a good job in our devotions to Mary, to Joseph and to Jesus to Whom we really owe much more that we give. After watching Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” (my third time) I was even more impressed with the suffering Jesus and Mary endured in love for the Father and for love of us.

May God give us His Grace to be determined to love more. All the saints testify: it is not how much we do, but the love we put into what we do that is most important. If we continue seeking vain pursuits, then we are showing what we love, more than devotion to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I’m glad you mentioned St. Joseph because he is often “neglected” and yet God chose him to protect Mary and the Child Jesus. He is a truly righteous man – worthy of honor and imitation – a good model for fathers and boys especially. Mary, while she is a model for women and girls she is also a Model for the whole Church in her submission to God. God chose to send His Son to a be raised in a family. That is significant for all of us – children and parents and all family members.

Please let us pray for one another and for the Church, Sammy, that we may all do some good in our families and the Church. We are ALL called to holiness! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. You have helped more than you know.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Little Lady, thanks for your reply. Sorry if I gave you – or others-- that impression. The priest whom I quoted is a chaplain working primarily with young adults so he sees many of them with “heads down”, as he said, texting – but does not see many “looking up” at Mass or at other prayer opportunities.

What can you share with us about your family interactions, Little Lady? What part do you play in helping your family grow closer to God? Like Sammy, I hope you’ll share your thoughts with us. We are all part of the Body of Christ and we are called to build up one another in love. (cf Phil 4)

 

[TheLittleLady]

My family interactions are personal.

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Little Lady, Thanks for your reply.

Understood : family interactions are personal. What I was hoping you could share was some way in which you or , perhaps another family member was a blessing.

“Men” when the word is used in scripture often is rendered as “mankind” or “the human race” so as to include women as well as men. It seems to me both men and women ought always to pray, and not faint . Right?