Graciously grant that we may imitate the shining example of the Holy Family in practicing the virtues of family life in the bonds of Charity, so that in the joy of Your Temple, we may delight one day in eternal rewards.

Collect Prayer, from the Feast of the Holy Family

That is our mission as a family. We all come from families. Our saving God stole into human history in the form of a little child, in Bethlehem, two thousand years ago (Esolen, p.90).

This is not an easy mission for a family. Now now. Not then, either.
Now, as then, the family, a child, witness to life, is a “a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).

In our times, we may be struggling, in our families, in our experiences. We may be toiling for the profit of others, far away from our families, unable to enjoy the rewards of labours with family.

There are so many pressures on everyone to work away from home, or even pressures invading into our homes and onto our screens, demanding even more isolating time toiling away.

As a faith community, we need to recognize and support our families any way we can.

Governments offer help, in the form of taking children from home into their programs, for the good of industry and the economy. Yet the economy, the meaning of the word, came from the work of the family, the heart of life and of true economy.

It is not for governments or powers to take the young or elderly from families into other organisations.

We may not always have perfect families, but Christians do not seek to take everyone else’s families away from them.

What is most obvious and natural has been forgotten: the family is the original cell of social life, the family is the natural society (CCC#2207).
The family does not exist at the whim of governments of powers, but society only exists from and for the family (CSDC#217).

The family is the sanctuary of life, to be protected as in the Gospel.
The family is to help us all to learn what it means to love and be loved, self-sacrificially, as Christ and the Holy Family (CSDC#212).
The family is the primary natural community in which to experience human social nature, learning to be good people, to build up a good society in true solidarity, freeing society from destructive individualism or collectivism.

Governments and powers are to help serve the family and meet the needs of the family with a living family wage, so that the family can work at home together, without disruption or intrusion upon the sanctuary of the family (CSDC#214, 250).

Parents are the primary educators of their children, and the government is to assist them in providing fitting education with other like-minded families, meeting not only language needs but respecting religious needs as in the Canadian Charter of Rights (CSDC#239-247; Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, RSC 1985, app. II, no. 2; Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 26).

The family is essential, necessary, and precious.
Let us protect our families, and help keep them holy.

Families are courageous signs of the Gospel of Life, giving us all Hope, leading us in Faith, to Charity (CSDC#231).

Let us be like the shepherds, offering simple encouragement.
Let us be wise magi, sharing our gifts with those in need.
Let us know how our parish can help families help families, to form helpful groups to protect the family from threats, to advocate for the family, to safely form our families in Faith.