I always like to hear Deacon Mick Fornelli preach. To listen to his thoughts on the Solemnity of the Holy Family, click on the little black arrow below. My column on “How to Raise a Holy Family” is below.
HOW TO RAISE A HOLY FAMILY – Fr. Leo
Merry Christmas…Day 5!
One of the great things about being Catholic is that for us, Christmas is not just a day, but a whole season. This year Christmas lasts until the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord on January 12th. That’s actually 19 days of Christmas. So don’t take that tree down yet!
This week, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. A central focus of the feast is the family as the first expression of the Church. Indeed, it’s vitally important for us to remember that Church exists first at home. If it does not, then what we do here on the weekends will have limited impact.
So how you have raise Catholic household? How can each of us be a “holy family?” Simple. In the Church we sanctify (set aside for God) three things: 1) People, 2) Places, and 3) Time. So start with the basics:
1. Sanctify the members of the family. In the Catholic Book of Household Blessings and Prayers there are lots and lots of blessings that parents can impart at certain times of the year. I particularly like the blessing of children as they leave for school each day. There are also blessings for birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, and just about anything else you can think of.
2. Set aside a special place in the house that is dedicated to family prayer. You have a place to eat, a place to sleep, a place to watch TV. Where in the house will you make a place to pray? As a child, I remember kneeling around our parents’ bed to pray the Rosary. Make sure there is a crucifix prominently displayed in the main part of the house. Does every bedroom have a crucifix above the bed or the doorway. Have a depiction of the Last Supper in your dining room.
3. Make sacred family time. Make the Church calendar, your family’s calendar. The parish calendars that we hand out can help in this regard. Celebrate all the liturgical seasons at home. Decorate with the liturgical colors. Advent calendars and Advent wreathes are great for preparing for Christmas. Leave the Nativity Scene and other Christmas decorations up until the Baptism of the Lord (some will even do so until Candlemas on February 2nd.) Set aside a certain time each day for simple family prayer.
4. Learn your faith and have resources on hand for quick reference. Here are five essential Catholic books in every household: 1) New American Study Bible (Revised Edition), 2) Catechism of the Catholic Church 3) Catholic Book of Household Blessings and Prayers. 4) Flannery’s Documents of Vatican II, Volume I. 4) Butler’s Lives of the Saints (Revised). 5) The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom by John Hardon, S.J.
Raising a holy Catholic family is not rocket science, but it does take some planning and resolve. The traditions established in the home now will pay dividends for generations. – Fr. Leo