As we journey through Advent and prepare ourselves for the coming of Our Lord at Christmas, it is natural that we should think about how we might strive, by God’s grace, to grow in holiness in our daily life and especially in our family life.
We see the perfect model that we should strive to pattern in our own lives when we look to the Holy Family. Saints and spiritual writers throughout Christian history have reflected on the Holy Family and the virtues that they naturally inspire in the hearts of believers.
Consider the Blessed Virgin Mary’s momentous fiat — her resounding “yes!” to God through the Angel Gabriel. Consider St. Joseph’s earnest and trusting response to the mystery of the incarnation, his perfect cooperation with God, and his holy strength and resolve in leading and protecting Mary and Jesus. Consider Our Lord’s docility, humility and love that surely characterized his earthly life prior to Sacred Scripture’s recounting of his public ministry.
Truly, the Holy Family is the perfect model for every believer and a reminder that we are all, whatever our circumstances, called to holiness and sanctity by God’s grace. For husbands and wives, this means renewing your sacramental vows daily in the way you cherish, honor, and forgive one another. For parents, this means modeling virtue for your children and your relatives. And for children and young people, this means caring for and obeying your parents, practicing faithfulness and obedience that will also build discipline and self-control.
The commercial and secular aspects of the Christmas season can make it challenging to remember that the greatest gift we can give to a loved one or friend is the gift of ourselves — our attention, our prayerful and spiritual friendship, our presence and our time. We can all take a few moments to intentionally plan how we might offer the gift of our companionship and friendship this Christmas season. As a people of faith, we know that to maintain a healthy spiritual life, we cannot neglect our relationship with God. In the same way, we should remember that to maintain a holy family life, we are called to bring the light of Christ into our homes and into our communities.
The cultivation of a holy family life can take many forms. A few possibilities could be praying together at the beginning and end of each day; attending Mass together; and making a habit of regular Confession. Then share these new routines with family and encourage them to join in practicing specific corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
The cultivation of a holy family life is the work of a lifetime, and it requires frequent prayer to God for direction, guidance, and encouragement. But we should never tire of the challenge. I sometimes will encourage friends and families who share with me about the excessive burdens or stress of the Christmas season to focus on their and their family’s spiritual health and to consider a “reset” when it comes to habits that may lead others, and especially young children, to neglect the sacred character of the season. May we always strive to model for others Our Lord’s encouragement to store up not earthly treasures but rather heavenly treasures, for “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Mt 6:19-21)
We were made to be saints. Christmas should encourage us never to tire of asking God to pour out his grace in our hearts and transform us, for our good and for those we love and encounter. This is a fitting season, therefore, for us to consider what specific graces we might ask of God to help us live with greater holiness and virtue in our own lives and especially in relation to our families. We should present those intentions to him in faith and trust in his divine plan for us.
Holiness is not reserved only for the saints of history or the cloisters and monasteries of consecrated religious men and women. God wants our holiness and our virtue in every aspect of our lives — not only in our families, but also in our activities and hobbies, friendships and professional lives. May we persevere with great faith in God’s goodness and in our capacity by his grace for holiness and virtue, supported this Advent and always by active participation in the life of the church and, especially, by our fervent prayer.
May the joy of this Christmas, with the help of Jesus and through the prayers of Mary and Joseph, strengthen the bonds of unity among us so we may live together as his holy family throughout Advent, the Christmas season and always.
