Feast of the Holy Family: presentation of Dom Guéranger

Until a few years ago was the kingship of Christ, his eternal empire that sang the Liturgy this Sunday, joining his songs to those of the angelic choirs in adoration of God made man (Introit of the Mass of Sunday in the Octave of Epiphany ). But the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit and her maternal concern, she thought it would be appropriate to invite the generations of our time today to consider the mutual relations of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, to gather the damage that they contain and draw Profit from effective relief efforts so that their example offers (Roman Martyrology). The fact that the Missal is assigned the same Gospel to Sunday in the Octave of Epiphany and the recent celebration of the Holy Family, was not without influence - it can be assumed - the choice of the place it occupies now in the new calendar solemnity.

This however does not completely distract our thoughts from the mysteries of Christmas and Epiphany: devotion to the Holy Family is perhaps not born in Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph after Jesus received, the homage of the shepherds and the Magi? And if the object's feast surpasses the first moments of earthly existence of the Saviour and extends to thirty years of his hidden life, you are probably already at the trough some of its most significant aspects? Jesus, in voluntary weakness in which he puts his state of childhood, those who abandon themselves to the designs of his Father has entrusted to their custody, Mary and Joseph engaged, in humble adoration to the One who regard them as the ' authorities, all the duties that require their sacred mission.

Model of Christian home.

Later the Gospel, speaking of Jesus' life between Mary and Joseph to Nazareth, describe with these words: "And he was obedient to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew, in wisdom, age and grace before God and before men "(Luke 2,51.52). As in this case is about the sacred text, it turns out, however, to our eyes a bright vision of order and peace in the authority, in submission, in dependency and mutual relations. The Holy House of Nazareth is offered us the perfect model of Christian home. Here Joseph commands with the calm and serenity, because consciousness has, in so doing, to do God's will and to speak in his name. Knows about his chaste bride and her divine Son he is much less, yet his humility made him accept without fear or upset, the task has been entrusted by God to be the head of the Holy Family, and as a greater good does not think to make use of if not the most perfectly fulfill the office of a servant, of subject, tool. Mary, as befits a woman, remains modestly submitted to Joseph and, in turn, adoring Him whom it commands, gives orders without hesitation to Jesus in many occasions that presents the life of the family, calling him, asking his help, entrusting this or that employment as a mother with her child. And he humbly accepts such awe, is prompt to show any desire of parents, obedient to their minimum orders. In all the details of ordinary life he, more accomplished, more wise, most holy Mary and Joseph, and although all honor is due to him remains subdued them, and will until the day of his public life, because those are the conditions of humanity that has played and that is the blessing of the Father. "Yes - exclaims St. Bernard got the enthusiasm before the show so sublime - the God to whom the angels are subject, which obeys the principalities, powers, was subject to Mary and not only Mary but also to Joseph reason for Mary! Enjoy the one and then another, and observed that there seems to be more admirable if the gracious condescension of the Son and the glorious dignity of the Mother. Be amazed by both sides, yet sublime miracle by both parties. A God obeys a human being here is a humility that is without parallel, a human controls a God here is a sublime without equal "(Homily on the east missus).

Salutary lesson that we have presented here! God wants us to obey commands and depending on the task and functions of each, not to the degree of merit and virtue. In Nazareth, the order of authority and dependence is not the same as that of perfection and holiness. This happens all too often in human society and the Church itself: If the superior should observe nell'inferiore sometimes a virtue of its higher, the lower is always the duty to respect the higher authority derived by the same God .

The Holy Family lived the work of his hands. The common prayer, the saints talks with whom Jesus loved to be in a growing and raising the souls of Mary and Joseph, had their own time, and had to stop before the need to cater for the needs of everyday life. Poverty and work are too important means of sanctification, God blessed them required the small group of Nazareth. Joseph practiced so assiduously his job as a carpenter, and Jesus, just be able to do so, will share his work. In the second century, the tradition still kept the memory of the yokes and plows manufactured by his divine hands (St. Justin, Dialogue with Trypho, 88).

In those hours, Mary did all her duties as mistress of a humble home. Prepare meals that Joseph and Jesus would be ready after work, waiting for the order and chores, and senes doubt - as is the custom of that time - should itself largely to clothing and his family, or did some work for other compensation which would serve to increase the welfare of all. So, with his dark life and active in the workshop of Joseph, Jesus has elevated and ennobled manual labor that is the fate of most men. Assuming for themselves and their parents provided a simple craftsman, he has wonderfully honored and sanctified the condition of the working classes, who can now come to seek, in so Augusti examples, along with an encouragement in the practice of the noblest under a constant cause of satisfaction and happiness (Leo XIII, Short Neminem fugit of June 14, 1892).

So we see the Holy Family under the humble roof of Nazareth, true model of the domestic life with his charity and mutual relations of its ineffable beauty, which is the sphere of millions of faithful around the world where orders as did her husband Joseph, as he obeys his wife Mary, where the parents are anxious for the education of children, and where they take the place of Jesus with obedience, progress, joy and light that spread around him. In the words of a pious author that we like to quote the Christian home, thanks for that every day and every moment is poured over him from heaven for the multitude of virtues that puts into action and finally the Happiness is in the chest, is "like the vestibule of Paradise" (Coleridge, The Life of our life, or the History of Our Lord Jesus Christ, III, c. 16). So it's no surprise that it is the subject of constant attacks by the enemies of mankind. And if they sometimes show some notable victory over the kingdom founded by our Lord here on earth, what happens when they can contaminate the marriage, destroy the authority of parents, to cool the affections and duties that bind children to the father and mother. There is no invasion of barbarian hordes advancing through a thriving region that bring fire and sword, which is so hateful in the eyes of heaven as a law that sanctions the dissolution of the marriage bond, or subtract the children to the custody and management of parents. All over the world for God's mercy, the Christian family has been established and defended by the Church as his finest creation and its most. Great benefit to society. Now the light, peace, purity, and happiness of the Christian home, is derived entirely from the past life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Holy House of Nazareth.

History.

The cult of the Holy Family was developed particularly in the seventeenth century, in the form of pious associations which have as their goal the sanctification of Christian families on the model of the Incarnate Word. This devotion was introduced in Canada by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, soon to spread rapidly thanks to the zeal of Francis de Montmorency-Laval, first bishop of Quebec. The virtuous prelate, with the advice and assistance of Father Chaumonot and Barbara Boulogne, widow of Louis of Ailleboût of Coulonges, former governor of Canada, erected in 1665 a Confraternity of which he himself took care to lay the regulations, and shortly after canonically established in his diocese the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, providing that you served the Mass and the Office had to make that fact (Gosselin, Vie de Mgr de Laval, I e. 27).

Two centuries ET (in front of the increasing manifestations of the piety of the faithful concerning the mystery of Nazareth, Pope Leo XIII, with the Short Neminem fugit of June 14, 1892, the association established in Rome the Holy Family, with the aim of unify all fraternities formed under the same name. The following year, the same Pontiff decreed that the feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the third Sunday after Epiphany everywhere was granted, and endowed of a new Mass and d 'an office which he himself had wanted to compose hymns. Finally, Benedict XV, in 1921, forcing the party throughout the Church, and stared at the Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany [1].

Epistle (Col 3.12 to 17). - Brothers: Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humility, modesty, patience, forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has to complain that of another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you, too. But above all you love, which is the bond of perfection. And the peace of Christ, to which you were called in one body triumphs in your hearts and be thankful. The word of Christ dwell in you with all wisdom in its fullness. Istruitevi and exhort among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing softly to God in your hearts. Whatever you say or do, everything you do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, making, through him, thanks to God the Father?

In this passage the Apostle Paul we find the listing of family virtues that should adorn the Christian home: the gentleness, humility and patience with which souls are strengthened against the impact of defects, differences of temperament and character, mutual kindness which makes each attempt to lighten the burden of others, does not know if the misfortunes and illness not to sweeten the bitterness, the merciful indulgence to forgive the inevitable disagreements and has hurt the hearts forgiveness, following the example of the Lord who has forgiven all. All these provisions have as their root moral charity which appear as irradiation: it to the domestic relations are improved, soprannaturalizzate and spreads deep in affection, respect, with regard, in submission and obedience. The practice of these virtues, combined with acts of religion are to sanctify our joys and all penalties related to family life course, men ensures the widest margin of happiness that can be enjoyed here, and it is in Jesus, Mary and Joseph must look for the perfect model.

Gospel (Lk 2, 42-52). - Now when Jesus reached the age of twelve, as they went to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, in return, past the days of solemnity, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, it will avvidero his parents. Assuming it was in the group, went a day and then began to look among relatives and acquaintances. But not finding him, returned to Jerusalem looking for him. And it came after three days they found him in the temple sitting among the doctors to listen and to question, while the audience amazed by his wisdom and his answers. And seeing it did wonders. And his mother said, "Son, why have you done this? Behold, your father and I have sought thee sorrowing! He said to them: And why try? Did you not know that I must be what it is to my Father? And they did not understand the words they said to him. And he went with them and came to Nazareth, and was their subject. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom, age and grace before God and men.

Thus, Jesus, that you came from heaven to teach us. The weakness of childhood, under the guise that you show us your passion does not stop to let us know the one God who made all things and yourself, her son, who sent us. Set in a manger, teach at a glance the shepherds; under your humble groups, volunteer in your silence, you have revealed to the Magi who sought the light following the star. At twelve, explain to the doctors of Israel that the scriptures testify of tea; gradually dispel the shadows of the law with your presence and your words. To comply with the orders of your heavenly Father, not fear of upsetting the mother's heart so souls trying to illuminate. Your love for men pierce more cruelly still very tender heart that the day when, for the salvation of those same men, Mary will see you hanging on the cross dying the most excruciating pain. Blessed are you, Emmanuel, in these early mysteries of your childhood, where you appear already filled only us and ready to favor the same mother company of your men sinners who must one day plotting your death.

PLEASE

O Lord Jesus Christ who was obedient to Mary and Joseph, consacrasti domestic life with ineffable virtue is' we, through their intercession, we imitate the example of your Holy Family and the company will attain heaven.

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