The Church proposes the Holy Family of Nazareth as a model for all families. In the family of Nazareth we encounter the example of a man and father (Joseph), the example of a woman and mother (Mary) and the example of a son and person (Jesus).
There are different ways of fulfilling ones role in communion with others without excluding anyone; however, the harmony of the House of Nazareth does not depend on the roles of each member, but rather on the unconditional love which unites them. This love is not only human in its expression but also divine in its mystery and universality.
The life and testimony of the Holy Family is proposed for everyone without exception. Because of this, the Holy Family is not just a model for some families, but for the whole Church (a family of families).
Traditionally, the Holy Family has been proposed as the perfect model for religious communities. Thus, Jesus, Mary and Joseph accept God’s plan and they carry out this plan through perfect obedience, perfect chastity and perfect poverty. However, the Holy Family cannot be reduced to being the perfect model only for consecrated life. God makes himself present in the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph so that all families can feel and know the nearness of God. Hence, the Church proposes the spirituality of the Holy Family to inspire families and individuals to face their questions, fears, challenges, sadness, joys and hopes of today’s families.
The first challenge of the Holy Family Association is to present the Holy Family as a model of family and human relationships to all families and to the Church. One cannot love whom one does not know and the Holy Family of Nazareth continues to be, twenty-one centuries later, a great unknown to many Christians. This is in part because of the mystery which they represent and also because we have committed the mistake of making a Holy Family of our own ideas and beliefs. Because of the temporary and finite nature of our ideas, we cannot grasp the totality and the universality of the plan of God.
There are different ways of fulfilling ones role in communion with others without excluding anyone; however, the harmony of the House of Nazareth does not depend on the roles of each member, but rather on the unconditional love which unites them. This love is not only human in its expression but also divine in its mystery and universality.
The life and testimony of the Holy Family is proposed for everyone without exception. Because of this, the Holy Family is not just a model for some families, but for the whole Church (a family of families).
Traditionally, the Holy Family has been proposed as the perfect model for religious communities. Thus, Jesus, Mary and Joseph accept God’s plan and they carry out this plan through perfect obedience, perfect chastity and perfect poverty. However, the Holy Family cannot be reduced to being the perfect model only for consecrated life. God makes himself present in the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph so that all families can feel and know the nearness of God. Hence, the Church proposes the spirituality of the Holy Family to inspire families and individuals to face their questions, fears, challenges, sadness, joys and hopes of today’s families.
The first challenge of the Holy Family Association is to present the Holy Family as a model of family and human relationships to all families and to the Church. One cannot love whom one does not know and the Holy Family of Nazareth continues to be, twenty-one centuries later, a great unknown to many Christians. This is in part because of the mystery which they represent and also because we have committed the mistake of making a Holy Family of our own ideas and beliefs. Because of the temporary and finite nature of our ideas, we cannot grasp the totality and the universality of the plan of God.
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