Holiness and free and loving obedience to God, then, go hand-in-hand. However, when an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take Mary as his wife, he faithfully and quickly complies with this command of the Lord. [See also: 8 Little-Known Facts About St. Joseph, the Foster Father of Jesus] Being a wife and mother (wife to a kind and gentle man from an equally sweet family, and mom to the cutest kids I could ever ask for) has shown me how unworthy I am of so great a gift as my vocation. The Holy Family speaks to the reality of every family. But what makes for a holy family? Once we are consecrated as holy by God, our pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God truly begins in earnest. This is, of course, a heartbreaking situation. That doesn’t mean that our families need to be perfect. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. In fact, without God’s grace, sainthood wouldn’t even be a possibility. The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you! Since the very beginning of our ministry, our founders recognized consecration as a powerful way to bring the Faith to life and protect families in the battle against evil. What should you do if you are in a family like this, and you still want to be holy? Regardless of your family’s situation, there is hope for you. The sacrifice of the poor was two turtledoves or two pigeons. They challenge all of us to pattern our homes after the heart of God. Recall that when he discovered Mary’s pregnancy, he decided to dismiss her quietly because he was a “righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace” (Mt 1:19). Such a relationship begins at the moment of salvation. The Virgin Mary was chosen to be the mother of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God … Family Consecration can bring about God’s kingdom on earth—starting with families and spreading to all of society. It was a moment for them to understand that parents must give up their own expectations and allow necessary space for their children to live out their own roles and fulfil their own life calling. It’s not always easy; it’s not a life for cowards. Holiness is made possible by grace, and is defined as being dedicated, consecrated or devoted to God and to his service. If we’re not experiencing this cost, then it is incumbent upon us to rethink our attitudes and behavior. An understanding of the Immaculate Conception gives us an insight into the meaning of holiness and, therefore, how we are to … All comments are held in moderation for a short time prior to publishing. I believe we need to think and pray about the models of holiness we propose with much more care than we may have hitherto. The Family as a Model of Holiness: The Beatification Process of John Paul II’s Parents Begins. Again and again, they find themselves inconvenienced (labor and delivery in a stable), fleeing for their lives (flight to Egypt), or frantic with worry (finding in the Temple). “Holiness is the strength of the soul. 12). Please share on social media. It is a profound “yes” given in loving obedience to the Tripersonal God. Holiness will look very different, depending on the health of the family dynamics, but regardless, all families are called to holiness. ... "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" Because God calls all people without exception to the life of holiness. Reproduction of material from this website for commercial purposes or unauthorized use without written permission is prohibited. We see this early in Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. © Copyright 2021 Catholic Exchange. It is important to establish healthy boundaries, and seek healing (whether for ourselves or for a difficult relationship). This kind of prayer and love is honoring (no matter what an abusive family member might tell you), and…you guessed it. There is even hope for a family like this to be like the Holy Family. He honors them and loves them, but that honoring doesn’t always equal doing what they want, especially not when it conflicts with the Father’s will. And what about Joseph? Many other aspects of free and loving obedience to the will of God can be found in the lives of the Holy Family. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. Living the Catholic life, always and everywhere for God, December 30, 2018 by Deacon Frederick Bartels Leave a Comment, By Deacon Frederick Bartels St. Joseph's Connection to the Famous Sagrada Família Basilica. Our list might be less obvious than say, faith, hope, and love. It is essential that we treat the other members of our family with respect. It is this that has given them lasting greatness. It is opposed to and incompatible with worldliness. 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