Make February the Month of Love, God’s Love – February’s Dedication: The Holy Family

The month of February is here. Because of Valentine’s Day many of you might see this month as the month of love, but don’t forget to think about God’s love while you’re at it!

Especially do this in light of God loving us with that John 3:16 type of love and sending His only Son into the world to become a true member of a particular human family by becoming man. And in joining a particular family His Son joined the entire human family on earth out of love for each member of it as well. Consider how great that love must have been (and still is in heaven) between Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. If Mary had a “love beyond all telling” for her Son as the second preface of Advent told us not too long ago, then it is not too much of stretch to suggest that this same love enveloped the entire Holy Family in a cycle of holy love as Mary loved Jesus and Jesus loved Joseph and Joseph loved Mary and all loved all. And we sorrowful sinners in a mystical way become members of the Holy Family by our baptism into Christ Jesus. Through this Mary, the Mother of the Church and of Christians, becomes our Mother as well and loves us with total affection as her children who make up her Son’s body with Him as our Head. And St. Joseph, universal Patron and protector of the Church, looks after us with the loving care of a father. So much to contemplate on! And an extra day this leap year to do it too! I’ll leave the rest to you, my brothers and sisters.

For now let my provide a prayer to take with you the entire month dedicated to the Holy Family. This is from the website of Missionaries of the Holy Family and can be found here.

The Holy Family Prayer

JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.

MARY, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.

JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen

Holy Family, intercede for us!

Cover image: An Ethiopian icon depicting the Nativity; found here. Presumably in the Public domain.