The special devotion of February, the Holy Family: how to imitate the virtues
The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. The special devotion that the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph proposes as a model of virtue for all Christian families began in the 1663th century. It began almost simultaneously in Canada and France: the Association of the Holy Family was founded in Montreal in 1674, and by the Daughters of the Holy Family in Paris in 1893. This devotion soon spread and in XNUMX Leo XIII expressed his approval for a party under this title and he himself was part of the Office. Due to the flight to Egypt this holiday has been observed by the Copts from the earliest times.
In the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, “Nothing can truly be healthier or more effective for Christian families to meditate on than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues”.
The Holy Family represents for us what family life should exemplify. It is a school of virtue for parents and children. There we find God and learn how to connect with God and with others. The family is where love is given for free without self-interest. It is there that we learn to love, pray and practice the gift of charity. Pope John Paul II said: “The family, more than any other human reality, is the place where the person is loved for himself and where he learns to live the sincere gift of himself” (November 27, 2002).
We should ask ourselves if our own families model that of the Holy Family. We must be open to God's grace to value the positive and accept our mistakes - and be willing to correct them. Parenting is a very demanding responsibility, and mistakes are sometimes made despite the best of intentions. Recognizing this, children should trust their parents and never forget that parents only want what's best for them.
Which brings us to what may be the most important family virtue: forgiveness. Living so intimately within the family unit naturally gives rise to unpleasant situations in which someone tends to be offended. St. Paul knew this when he told us to "put up with and forgive one another". Our family's health can depend on how quickly we learn to forgive without harboring feelings of resentment.
No family can thrive and grow without constant work. The material details that take time and effort are also essential to keeping the family strong. Everyone must work together for the good of the family, to the point of putting the happiness of other family members before their own needs and ambitions, putting aside their own selfish desires.
It is also important to pray in the family, especially the holy rosary. Prayer will help us to intensify our closeness to each other and to learn to forgive.