FEBRUARY
The Holy Family
Following the celebration of Christ’s infancy, February turns our attention to the "Domestic Church"—the home. By reflecting on the lives of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Nazareth, we are reminded that holiness is not found in extraordinary feats, but in the ordinary virtues of love, obedience, and mutual support within our own families.
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
~Colossians 3:14
February is often celebrated as the month of love, but as Catholics, we look deeper than cards and candy. We look to Nazareth. We dedicate this month to The Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
In Elmendorf and Saspamco, we know that family is everything. It is where we learn our history, where we find support in hard times, and where we first learn to pray. By honoring the Holy Family, we are asking God to make our own homes look a little more like theirs: full of grace, patience, and mutual respect.
The Teaching: The Domestic Church
The Church has a beautiful name for the Christian home: the Ecclesia Domestica, or the "Domestic Church." It means that your living room is just as important to God’s plan as the church sanctuary.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the family is where the faith is passed down, not through textbooks, but through living example.
When we gather for Sunday dinner or bless our children before they leave for school, we are living out this high calling. We are making Christ present in the ordinary moments of our lives.
"The Christian home is the place where children receive the first proclamation of the faith. For this reason the family home is rightly called 'the domestic church,' a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity." (CCC 1666)
The Scripture: Growing in Wisdom
Scripture gives us a glimpse into the hidden life of Jesus. He didn't just appear as a grown man; He lived, worked, and obeyed within a family unit.
This passage from Luke reminds us that holiness is found in the daily grind. St. Joseph worked with his hands to provide; Blessed Mary managed the household with love; and Jesus, the Son of God, showed us the dignity of being a respectful son. If the Son of God submitted Himself to family life, how much more should we cherish our own families?
"Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:51-52)
Living the Faith: How to Observe this Month
The Holy Family faced real struggles—poverty, migration, and uncertainty—yet they remained united in God. Here is how we can bring that spirit into our homes in San Antonio this month:
1. The "Sobremesa" of Faith
In our culture, the meal isn't over when the food is gone. We linger and talk (sobremesa). This month, try to eat at least one meal together as a family each week with no phones and no TV. Use that time to talk about your blessings and struggles.
2. Bless Your Children
It is a time-honored tradition for parents to trace the sign of the cross on their children’s foreheads before they leave the house or go to sleep. If you haven't done this in a while, February is the perfect time to start. It reminds them they belong to God.
3. Pray for the Fathers
St. Joseph is the silent strength of the Holy Family. Let us pray especially for the fathers and grandfathers of St. Anthony and OLP, that they may have the courage and gentleness of St. Joseph in leading their families.
A Prayer for February
Lord Jesus, You chose to enter the world through a family, Sanctifying the bond between mother, father, and child.
We entrust our home to Your Holy Family. Make our household a place of prayer and peace. Help us to forgive quickly, To love deeply, And to serve one another with humble hearts.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, ** graciously hear our prayer.**
Amen.
Gather your family (or hold them in your heart) and pray this intently.
The Holy Family
St. Joseph
A just and righteous man, he is the model of faithful fatherhood, obedience to God, and the protector of the family. He teaches us the dignity and sanctity of our daily work.
The Blessed Mother Mary
The model of motherhood and discipleship. She is the heart of the home, who "pondered all these things in her heart," teaching us to be receptive to God's will and to nurture faith in our families.
The Child Jesus
The Son of God, He was obedient to His parents, growing in "wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). He shows us that holiness is found in the simple, loving duties of family life.
Additional Discussion
February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) in Catholicism, originating from the Church's focus on the home as a "domestic church," formally established as a universal feast by Pope Leo XIII in 1893, with practices like family prayer, consecration to the Holy Family, and scriptural meditation to model Christian life, especially in challenging times. Catholics honor them by imitating their virtues of humility, obedience, service, and prayer at home, viewing them as the perfect example for all Christian families to counter societal breakdown.
Origins of the Devotion
Early Roots:
The devotion stems from early Christian recognition of the Holy Family's sanctity, with the Copts observing a related feast early on.
Formalization:
Pope Leo XIII officially approved the feast for the universal Church in 1893, aiming to promote the family as a haven of virtue against societal ills.
"Domestic Church":
The concept of the home as a "miniature church" (domestic church) underpins this devotion, sanctifying family life through faith, as urged by St. John Chrysostom.
Current Practices & Spiritual Focus
Prayer:
Families pray together (Rosary, Litany of the Holy Family) and dedicate time to Scripture, especially Gospel passages about Jesus's childhood (Luke 2:51-52).
Virtue & Sacrifice:
Catholics strive to live virtues like charity, patience, forgiveness, and sacrifice, mirroring Jesus's submission to Mary and Joseph.
Acts of Love:
Making peace, sharing meals (e.g., "Holy Family plate"), and demonstrating mutual respect are common practices.
Consecration:
Families may consecrate themselves to the Holy Family, asking for their intercession to build a holy home.
Modeling Nazareth:
The goal is to make the home a "school of the Gospel," like Nazareth, emphasizing work, play, and faith together.
Significance Today:
February's focus is a powerful reminder for modern families facing challenges, providing a model for unity, love, and submission to God's will, countering worldly pressures.
A Prayer for Our Families
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, together in your heavenly home, rejoice in eternal reward. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Core Message
The core message of February's devotion to the Holy Family is that every home is called to be a "domestic church" where holiness begins through the imitation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It presents the family of Nazareth as a perfect model of faith, trust, and sacrificial love, illustrating that even amidst trials and daily struggles, a family can thrive spiritually by placing God at its center. Ultimately, the devotion challenges the faithful to transform their households into schools of virtue, where mutual respect, forgiveness, and service serve as a living reflection of divine love and a foundation for the wider Church and society.