The Sixth Day of Christmas: the Holy Family
Happy sixth day of Christmas! Today we celebrate the Sunday in the Octave of Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In the Holy Family, God gives us a living icon of family life: child, mother, father.
And yet, they made for themselves a home, wherever they were. A home of love and domestic joy.
Of course, today’s psalm reminds us that even in the midst of the family home, we are only pilgrims upon this earth, journeying towards our heavenly home.
Happy they who dwell in your house!
Continually they praise you.
Happy the men whose strength you are!
Their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.– from Psalm 84, Responsorial Psalm for today’s Feast
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Through all their joys and travails, the Holy Family discerned and followed the will of God, and they turned to each other. They become not just the model, but the very definition of a holy family.