Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Consecration to the Holy Family

 Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of February to the Holy Family. This special devotion, which gives the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue for all families, began in the seventeenth century. Placed in February, the devotion falls between the Christmas season, during which we focus our meditation on the Infant Jesus, and the season of Lent, when our focus is changed to the public life of Christ and His Passion. Thus the days between these two seasons finds our hearts looking at the Holy Family of Nazareth. In the words of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, "Nothing truly can be more salutary or efficacious for Christian families to meditate upon than the example of this Holy Family, which embraces the perfection and completeness of all domestic virtues."



The Holy Family by Murillo
During this month of the Holy Family, may we strive to imitate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their devotion, love, and service of God and one another. As Paul VI suggests, “May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character....” The following prayer, Consecration to the Holy Family, is a fitting prayer to recite during February. As we consecrate ourselves and our families to this most Holy Family, may we grow in our own virtues and love of God, helping one another reach our ultimate goal of heaven.


Consecration to the Holy Family

O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and
example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home in Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.


Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (three times each)

 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, save souls!  +


God bless! 
 +JMJ+





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