Dedication of the Month
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Jesus, Mary, and Joseph pray for us.
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During the month of February, all are encouraged to pray the Act of Consecration to the Holy Family.
ACT OF CONSECRATION
TO THE HOLY FAMILY
"O Jesus, our most loving Saviour! Thou Who wast sent down from Heaven to enlighten the world by Thy teaching and example, and Who didst will to pass the greater part of Thy holy life in Nazareth, subject to Mary and Joseph, and thereby didst hallow the household which was to be the pattern for all Christian families, do Thou in Thy goodness receive our household which this day consecrates itself to Thee. Protect and guard us, strengthen us in Thy holy fear, establish in our hearts the peace and concord of Christian Charity, so that each one of us becoming like to the Divine model
of Thy family, may be sharers of eternal joy."
"O Mary, most loving Mother of Jesus Christ, our Mother, through thy love and mercy intercede, that Jesus receive this act of Consecration, and pour out upon us His graces and blessings."
"O Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, help us by thy prayers in all our necessities, both of body and soul; that together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and thyself we shall praise and thank Jesus Christ, our Divine Redeemer."
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February
The Holy Family
The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the last Sunday of the year.
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children and Prents. Children, obey your parents [in the Lord], for this is right. "Honor your father and mother/" This is the first commandment with a promise, 'that it may go well with you and that you may have a long on earth." Fathers, do not provoke your hildren to anger but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord.
Collosians 3:18-21 The Christian Family. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.
God sent his Son to earth as a Baby, born into a family. Our own family life reflects that lived by Christ, in obedience to His mother and foster father. Both as children and as parents, we can take
comfort in the fact that we have the perfect model of the family before us in the Holy Family.
The Holy Family models for us what family life should exemplify. It is a school of virtue for both parents and children. There we find God, and learn how to connect with God and with others. The family is where love is freely given without self-interest. It is where we learn to love, to pray and to practice the gift of charity. We need to be open to God’s grace to value the positive and to accept our mistakes.
When mistakes are made, we must correct them and learn to forgive. Living intimately with the family naturally gives rise to unpleasant situations where someone is apt to be offended. The health of our family may depend on how quickly we learn to forgive without harboring feelings of resentment.
The family cannot thrive and grow without constant work. Even the material details that take time and effort are essential to keeping the family strong. Everyone has to pull together for the good of the family, even to the point of putting ahead of our own needs and ambitions, the happiness of other family members, setting aside our own selfish desires.
It is also important to pray as a family, especially the holy rosary. Prayer will help us to intensify our closeness with each other and to learn to forgive.
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How We Must Conduct Ourselves
Colossians 3: 1-17
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory,
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming [upon the disobedient]. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these, put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.