25 Day Consecration to the Holy Family

Consecration to the Holy Family

Introduction

Holiness of the Family

All families are called to be a reflection of the Holy Trinity. What is hoped for in and through the family is to reveal the hidden nature of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. While every family will ultimately fall short of this perfect holiness to some degree, it is always good and necessary to know the fullness of what God desires for the family; to live in holy union with one another, so that as one the family may be held up in grace and become a beacon of light in the darkness.

Every family is created uniquely with its own set of persons and circumstances. The individual persons of each family are meant together to comprise a harmonious community that is able to reflect God’s goodness in a very specific way. Therefore, each family’s journey is different and so is the means by which they learn and grow in virtue. As each family strives to grow in all of the virtues, one family may exemplify a specific virtue more than another, while their neighbor may exemplify another of the virtues more. It is important to never compare side by side your own family to your neighbor’s family because each is uniquely loved in God’s eyes and the gifts of your family are meant to work in communion with the gifts of your neighbors, so your community can grow together as a whole body in virtue. The goal for every family should be to be who they were created to be and to be that well. The family should be ever-striving to align their will with the Will of God and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead them in their particular path to holiness. When each family member and family unit does this, the community grows to be a light in the darkness where goodness spreads outward from the growth in virtue of each family..

No matter where your family finds itself at this point in time, this Consecration to the Holy Family will meet you right where you are and lead you closer to Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As your family sets outs, keep in mind that it all starts right where you are, in the midst of these circumstances, with the very people that God has placed in your lives, in this present moment. Often we get stuck thinking it will be best to wait for a situation to resolve or for the timing to be better, but then the Lord whispers to us, “be not afraid.” He desires for us to start now and to begin by changing one habit or starting one new devotion and building from there. Like Peter taking that first step out on the water toward Jesus, it is up to us to take that first step out in faith. Then the Lord will begin to work miracles in our lives. If we start to doubt or begin sinking in the water, Jesus will always be there to save us when we call out to Him; we need not fear.

St. John Paul II is a champion of marriage and family life. He believed in the holiness that all families are called to and their role in the new evangelization. He wrote numerous times about the family while he was pope. St. John Paul II bravely and boldly proclaimed the truth of the Christian marriage and it’s extension through the family. He was persistent in presenting the inherently positive effects of Christian families, both on the individual members of the family, as well as on the community, the nation and the world. In his letters and preaching, this Saint reminded us that the family is where we create an authentic community of persons. It is where we learn who we are, what gifts God has given us, and how we are called to use our gifts for the building up of the Kingdom of God. Love is what lives in the family through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit is invited into the family, the love of God dwells.

The Christian family is no doubt under attack in our world today, but the Catholic Church redirects our gaze to the full potential of the family and the graces that flow from a family life centered on Christ. By focusing on the building up of our own families, our view begins to shift away from the chaos of the world, onto how we can work to establish a civilization of love and unity starting with ourselves. When the world looks at our family, they should be led to desire a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus Christ. They should see peace, love, mercy, sacrifice, faith, hope, and truth being lived out on a daily basis. Through the Christian witness of our family, the Holy Spirit is able to transform the world one heart at a time.

This model of the family requires our being collaborators with the Holy Trinity. When we collaborate with the Holy Trinity we embrace the truth of who we are in Christ. As parents we realize our covenant vows and strive to live them out in daily life. Instead of selfishness, sacrifice is lived out and held up as the center point from which the graces of the cross flow. All family members are called to be obedient to God, and for the children to be obedient and respectful to their parents. It necessitates the recognition and living out of the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The Holy Spirit can then increase in the gifts of faith, hope and charity which become the foundation of the Christian family life and moral activity. Husband and wife are called to lead their family first through their own example and then through the outpouring of charity toward all of humanity.

The Catholic Church provides the family the framework from which to live as a domestic church. The family draws from the Church the sanctifying grace of the Sacraments through which they can daily live the sacramental life. They then become witness to the world of the Light of Christ that dwells within them. This holiness does not look down upon others, but instead is a lived humility that witnesses to the charity and glory of God and his saving power. It calls others to conversion and conviction to change because of the charity they see instead of feeling judgment and condemnation. As one family is strengthened, they become a beacon of hope and inspiration for others. There is no time better than now to begin building a Christian society from the ground up; from your family and mine. It starts when we begin to foster the dignity of every human being who has been uniquely created in God’s own image and likeness. We strengthen our own family as we hand on the faith by way of liturgy, the sacraments, prayer and catechesis and by simply living the life of the Church in our own homes.

Holy Family Consecration
This Holy Family Consecration was created as a way for families to come together, to learn about the virtues lived out in the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It is a commitment to building up and strengthening the family in faith and holiness. Through the roles of fatherhood, motherhood and childhood, each person of the family is called to live love from right where they are and to become the Light of Christ in the world. By meditating on the cardinal and theological virtues in light of each of these roles in the family, the goal is to help each person to see how these virtues can be lived out by them personally. All virtue starts where we are and grows in its refinement with the help of the Holy Spirit. The family should pray daily to the Holy Spirit to increase these virtues in them. As the family grows and matures in virtue, they will be led to a deepening of prayer; both personal prayer and family prayer. Additionally, the family will grow in faith, so that they can be sent out to evangelize both in word and deed.

The following is the format for this Holy Family Consecration:

This is a 25 day consecration to end on the 25th of any month you choose. The 25th day reminds us of both the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) and the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (December 25). Also, the number 25 signifies grace upon grace.
Each day you will pray a rosary with your family, read aloud the daily reflection and recite the Prayer to the Holy Family together.
The 25 days of the consecration are split up as follows:
- 7 Days devoted to St. Joseph, praying for the father of the family, and highlighting the 4 cardinal virtues and 3 theological virtues in relation to fatherhood
- 7 Days devoted to Mary, praying for the mother of the family, and highlighting the 4 cardinal virtues and 3 theological virtues in relation to motherhood
- 7 Days devoted to the Divine Child Jesus praying for the children of the family. Since Jesus was fully Divine and the perfection of virtue lived out, we will focus on what Jesus taught about the virtues through his teaching of the parables.
- 3 Days devoted to each Person of the Holy Trinity; God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. On these three days the family will fast or abstain, which will ideally be done from sun-up until sun-down, but at a minimum the family should commit to at least an hour of fasting or abstaining on each of these days.
  - On the 22nd Day = Abstain from electronic media – all things you watch or see that are distractions from God (i.e. TV, phone, social media, etc.).
  - On the 23rd Day = Abstain from noise by observing silence – spend some time with the Lord praying in silence.
  - On the 24th Day = Day of fasting (if you’re doing this in December, yes that is Christmas Eve until sun-down, in preparation for our King.). This fast can be on bread and water or the Lenten fast of one regular meal and two smaller meals that do not add up to a full meal.
- Final Day is a day of celebration and feasting as you consecrate your family to the Holy Family. The family will come together to recite the consecration prayer and then plan a celebration. Make it special – Have all your favorite foods. Truly feast together as a family!

Optional Devotions
The following are additional devotions to St. Joseph, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus that can be made during this consecration:

1st Wednesday Devotion to St Joseph
The 1st Wednesday of the month is traditionally dedicated to Saint Joseph. In order to participate in this devotion, on the first Wednesday of the month, recite the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary in memory of the life of St Joseph with Jesus and Mary and the love he bore them and the sorrow he suffered with them. Receive Holy Communion in union with the love with which St Joseph received the Savior for the first time and each time he held Him in his arms. Those who honor St Joseph in this way will be consoled by his presence at their death, and St Joseph will conduct them safely into the presence of Jesus and Mary.

1st Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The 1st Friday of the month is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The specific conditions to receive the Great Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are:

Receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month (this assumes that the person is in a state of grace, having made a sacramental confession for any mortal sins prior to receiving communion).
Having the intention, at least implicitly, of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for all the sinfulness and ingratitude of men.

1st Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The 1st Saturday of the month is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There are five requirements to obtain this promise from the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On five consecutive first Saturdays of the month, one should:

Have the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart in a spirit of reparation.
Go to confession (within eight days before or after the first Saturday).
Receive Holy Communion.
Say five decades of the Holy Rosary.
Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the goal of keeping Our Lady company.

Important Reminders

This is not about making your family perfect or trying to fix another person. This is about transforming your own heart and uniting it to the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It is within your own heart that God begins healing the family. When you begin to see others through the eyes of Christ, relationships are transformed and families are made whole. Whole and healed families build whole and healed communities and the light of Christ spreads outward from there. It begins with you. Be open to your own heart changing.

This Consecration format is meant to help guide you. The days of fasting and abstinence and praying the full Rosary are part of the consecration, however, please do not quit if you feel overwhelmed. Do what you can do as a family and do it from your heart. You may have a day where only a decade is prayed. You may find fasting hard if you have never done it before. It is important to remember that prayer from the heart to the best of your ability is meaningful and God walks with you from where you are to the place where He wants you to be as long as you stay on the path with Him and don’t give up.

Day 1
Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Prudence

To find the good in every situation and choose to do it

Reflection

When St Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant before they were officially married, in those days, Mary would have been publicly humiliated and even stoned to death. But we can see that St Joseph cared deeply for Mary, as he decided to dismiss her quietly in order to save her from any undue harm. This act of kindness reveals to us how Joseph used prudence in his decision-making. He chose to protect the lives of Mary and Jesus, while also being obedient to the Law of Moses. In this situation, the virtue of prudence led Joseph to uphold the dignity of Mary, Jesus and himself. We can see the full extent of this virtue in St Joseph once the angel appears to him in a dream and asks him to be the father of the Holy Family; Joseph acts immediately. His obedience to God in this circumstance is how he became the Guardian Heart of the Holy Family, ever united to Mary and Jesus for all of eternity.

For the father of the family, prudence is essential to leading the family. When the father is willing to accept the Will of God, even when human understanding may have him dismiss it or avoid it, he is demonstrating prudence. When he seeks the counsel of the Lord first and then acts immediately in full accord to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, he is a living witness to the virtue of prudence. In our lives we can exercise prudence by practicing discernment. Discernment is a virtue where we allow the Holy Spirit to help us make right judgement in our decisions. Every decision we make is a call to righteous action. We should always be open to all the possibilities God may have in store for us. Today we pray for the father to be strengthened in the virtue of prudence and be guided in right decision making.

Prayer to the Holy Family
Dear Lord, bless our family. Be so kind as to give us the unity, peace, and mutual love that You found in Your own family in the little town of Nazareth. Saint Joseph, bless the head of our family. Obtain for him the strength, the wisdom, and the prudence he needs to support and direct those under his care. Mother Mary, bless the mother of our family. Help her to be pure and kind, gentle and self-sacrificing. For the more she resembles you, the better will our family be. Lord Jesus, bless the children of our family. Help them to be obedient and devoted to their parents. Make them more and more like You. Let them grow, as You did, in wisdom and age and grace before God and man. Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family and home more and more like Yours, until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with You. Amen.

Day 2

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Justice

Give both God and neighbor everything they deserve

Reflection

The virtue of justice must first be seen in the light of the praise, worship and adoration that all human persons owe to God. It is clear from his righteous actions that St Joseph understood the virtue of justice well. He lived his whole life in humble obedience to the Lord. Out of respect and honor to the Lord, Joseph surrendered everything to God and trusted in His providence. St Joseph truly believed that God knew better and that God would guide him in all things. While there are no spoken responses recorded in scripture from Joseph, we know by way of his righteous actions just how much he loved the Lord. St Joseph also freely extended justice to others, which started in the Holy Family. As a husband and father, he looked beyond himself and willingly sacrificed for Mary and Jesus. It was the virtue of justice that aided Joseph in taking Mary and Jesus into his home. Not only did the Lord ask him to do so, but Joseph also understood that doing so would honor Mary, in whom he was betrothed, and the child, in whom they were given.

The father is called to exercise the virtue of justice by setting aside time for the Lord every day. As he does so, the entire family will learn the importance of prayer and having a personal relationship with God. The father leads the family in acting justly toward others through his service to the family. He serves through leadership, protection, and the provision of the physical and spiritual needs of the family. When a father is just he has a servant’s heart. This servant heart resembles the Guardian Heart of Saint Joseph who set himself in service of the Lord which in turn made him the leader of the Holy Family and protector of the universal church. The father’s growth in justice leads a family to become imitators of the Holy Family because they learn to serve one another based upon the justice due to both God and all human persons. Today we pray for an increase in the virtue of justice in the father of the family.

Day 3

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Fortitude

Strength to resist temptation, overcome obstacles, and conquer fear

Reflection

St Joseph was demonstrating the virtue of fortitude when he heeded the Angel’s warning and fled to Egypt with his family. This decision ended up saving the life of Jesus, but it also meant the Holy Family would have to cross a desert, a fierce landscape, which would require the fortitude of a lionhearted man to lead them. It meant the Holy Family would have to live in a foreign country, without family and friends, where the spoken language and the customs were vastly different from their own. In his even agreeing to such likely hardship, St Joseph exemplifies his profound trust in the Lord. As the Holy Family spent their first few years together in a sort of exile, they no doubt had to practice fortitude during that time. They chose to trust in the Lord even though it was not an easy time.

The father of the family often stands at the forefront of situations that require fortitude. There are a variety of instances where the family faces tremendous hardship or even a sort of exile. Sometimes they find that something immoral or unjust is at risk of affecting the family and it is the father of the family that must stand up and lead the family through it, just as St Joseph led the Holy Family to safety in Egypt. Today’s culture throws so many things our way that can mean our facing tough decisions head on. Though we may not have to cross an actual desert or live in exile, these situations can make us feel like the world is coming after us in much the same way Herod went after the Divine Child. In all this, we must have the moral fortitude to fight for good and protect the family from the things that are harmful to our souls. Today we pray for perseverance in the virtue of fortitude in the father of our family.

DAY 4

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Temperance

Balance in use of created things, using them in moderation and for good

Reflection

St Joseph is known as the Most Chaste Spouse because he was not ruled by impulse or emotions of the moment. We can know that he did not seek his own worldly comfort, because he over and over again sacrificed his own desires in order to be obedient to God. He chose God’s Will over his own. Tradition holds that both Mary and Joseph were ever-virgins, both willingly choosing at their betrothal to safeguard each other’s purity. Mary’s body was reserved for God and Joseph respected her dignity, thus preserving his own body in virginity as well. While married couples are not typically called to celibacy like Mary and Joseph, they are indeed called to chastity. Practicing chastity is a form of temperance. Chastity in marriage would exclude anything that is harmful to the dignity of the person and their spouse. Instead, each spouse is meant to be a total gift of self to the other, body and soul. Chastity teaches self-sacrifice instead of self indulgence. It is the respect of the holiness of the other, seeing God in the other, and thus treating them as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

The virtue of temperance is important for the father of the family to practice so that he can be a living witness to his children. Being able to control your desires is an important virtue to learn in life. We live in a world where so many forms of addiction are a common threat. When a father showcases the virtue of temperance to his family, he equips them with the tools necessary to safeguard themselves from such temptations. St Joseph was pure, chaste, modest, and self-sacrificing, all the marks of a temperate man grounded in virtue. As the Spiritual Head of the Holy Family, Joseph intercedes for families today so that the Christian Family can be lifted up as a model to the world of the love and virtue of the Holy Trinity. Today we pray for the father of the family to be a model of temperance for the rest of the family.

DAY 5

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Faith

Belief in God and belief in all he has said and revealed to us

Reflection

Saint Joseph is a pillar of faith as we see him, more than once, step out in complete faith and trust in God. Being a Jewish man, he would have been prayerfully hoping for the Messiah. Little did he know God would answer these prayers by bringing the Messiah to him personally, as a child to be fathered and protected by himself. What an incredible responsibility. Even so, Joseph had faith that God himself would provide all that he needed to accomplish this promise made to all of mankind. Although human reason would tell the best of us that what was being asked was too big, too scary, and seemingly impossible, St Joseph doesn’t doubt God’s plan, nor did he doubt God’s love for him. Joseph was able to forge ahead because he believed in the goodness of God more than he believed in his own strength or his own reason.

When we walk confidently in God’s love for us, our faith grows exponentially. Faith is living in an interior freedom that is gained by accepting God’s Will in all circumstances. The father of the family is called to walk in faith just as St Joseph did, so that he may be able to lead his family in the way of the Lord. As the family lives in complete confidence in God, it in turn allows God the opportunity to do the miraculous. Faith in God’s plan is what moves mountains, or in St. Joseph’s case, ushers in a Savior. The faith of the family falls in line with the father, who is charged with leading his family in virtue, by way of both word and deed. Today we ask the Lord to increase the gift of faith in the father of the family.

DAY 6

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Hope

Desire for the Kingdom of Heaven, placing our trust in Christ’s promises

Reflection

After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph presented the firstborn Son at the temple. Joseph was filled with hope when he heard Simeon and the prophetess Anna, who both proclaimed the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. Scripture tells us that Joseph and Mary were “amazed”. Hope does amaze us because it is the recognition of the Glory of God. St Joseph fully receives this treasure of hope into his heart, which was the hope for the salvation of the whole world. From that day forward, St Joseph lived each and every day in joyful hope for the coming of that day when his adopted son Jesus was to bring unity back to mankind. He no doubt spent his days on earth dreaming of all that was to come, yet tradition holds that St Joseph died in the arms of Mary and Jesus before the fulfillment of the Salvation of the world was completed. Today, St Joseph wants to intercede for you and your family in order to bring forth peace founded in the hope of Jesus Christ.

We live in a fallen world where sin and suffering are a part of our human condition, but there is one who brings lasting hope to us and that is Jesus Christ. The father of the family can keep hope at the forefront of his own life and the life of the family by remembering and recalling the abiding love of God. He can be a witness to hope to the family as he remains focused on our eternal home, instead of focusing only on this world. We do well to keep hope alive whenever we live with a grateful heart. The family is the training ground for eternity. All members are called to recognize their purpose, to know, love and serve God in this life and to live with Him forever in eternity. When we realize that our life here is short in comparison to eternity spent with the Lord, we can begin to live life here to the fullest as we wait in joyful hope for that day where there will be no more suffering and no more tears. Today we pray that the father of the family will be infused with the virtue of hope that brings light to the world.

DAY 7

Saint Joseph

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the father of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Charity

To love God above all things for His own sake and our neighbor as ourself

Reflection

St Joseph received the virtue of charity through his many interactions with Jesus on a daily basis. Once Christ was born, Joseph was able to gaze into the eyes of the Divine Child, adoring and praising God in His real presence, born upon this earth. St Joseph held the source of all charity in his very arms, a grace gifted to not many people. What an incredible gift of love! As the adoptive father of Jesus and the husband of Mary, St Joseph took the Blessed Mother and the Creator of the Universe into his home, vowing to honor and protect them. The daily presence of Jesus in his home surely transformed St Joseph, purifying and strengthening him in his vocation as husband and father.

There is no doubt that Divine Charity burned a holy fire within Joseph’s heart. The father of the family is called to discover this holy fire inside of his own heart; the Flame of Love that transforms the heart and enlivens the soul. This holy fire burns every time the father of the family genuflects and makes the sign of the cross when he comes into the presence of the tabernacle and recognizes the glory of God. As the father believes and passes on the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine, he accepts the source of all charity into his heart, and then is able to give it away as a gift to his family. When the father receives Christ in the Eucharist at Mass, he is nourished by the source of all charity and given strength in order to lead the family well. When the father sits in humble adoration in front of the monstrance and gazes upon the source of charity, he allows Jesus the opportunity to gaze upon him and love him right where he is. These acts of adoration help the entire family grow in the love and charity of God, giving them the ability to live out charity in their daily lives. Today we pray for the father of the family to be a beacon of charity to our family and community.

DAY 8

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Prudence

“O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling, so that my tongue may not destroy me!”
-Sirach 22:27

Reflection

After the Annunciation Mary tells Joseph, her espoused, all about what happened; how the angel came to her, how she said yes to being the mother of the Messiah, and how although she was unsure of the future she trusted in God. Mary no doubt wondered how Joseph would respond? We know from scripture that “Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19). This must have been a deep sorrow of Mary and she must have been troubled about what she was going to do, being pregnant and on her own. The response of Mary in this troubling situation was one of prudence. Mary trusted in the Lord and so she prayed and waited for the Lord to act. She prayed for the conviction of St Joseph. She knew that she was unable to convince him, but that the Holy Spirit had the power to do so. This was no small waiting that Mary did. The safety and security of her life and the life of her child were at serious risk. She needed Joseph’s yes and there was a realization that only God could make it happen for her. Mary waits for the Lord and in her waiting it allows the Holy Spirit the space to act in and through Joseph. The Lord was faithful by sending an angel to Joseph to Divinely reveal the truth to him.

The virtue of prudence can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, but in this instance Mary teaches mothers the value of waiting for the Lord. Mothers who mirror Mary, pondering things in their heart and surrendering to God’s will, are providing the Holy Spirit the opportunity to love and move within the family. The prudent mother does not try to manipulate and control, she instead prays and leaves room for the Holy Spirit to act in family members, the way Mary waited for the Holy Spirit to act in Joseph. Mothers are called to live out their vocation as wives and mothers through the virtue of prudence because in doing so it keeps the door wide open to the Holy Spirit. A prudent wife and mother teaches her family gentleness, self-control, and trust in the providence of the Lord. She reveals to them the power of prayer and the hidden treasure of patience. Today we pray for mothers to be guided in the virtue of prudence at all times and for them to grow in this virtue and to teach and demonstrate it well to their family.

DAY 9

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Justice

“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.”
-Proverbs 21:15

Reflection

The Blessed Virgin Mary gave to God what belonged to God, which included a total gift of herself, body and soul, to be the tabernacle for Jesus, God’s only Son. Through Mary’s gift of herself to God, Jesus then gives His body, blood, soul and divinity on the cross for the salvation of all of mankind. At the foot of the cross, Mary was there offering her Son back to the Father, giving God His due. From the cross, Jesus Christ showed us what justice through forgiveness looks like, and so, like Him, we too must forgive and reconcile with one another as an act of justice. No one exemplifies this more than the Blessed Virgin Mary as she lived a life of forgiveness, culminating at the crucifixion where she was able to be merciful to the Apostles who, all but one, had abandoned her Son during His passion and death. Instead of holding onto bitterness and/or seeking retribution against them, we glean from the person we know Mary to be, that she prayed for them. Mary doesn’t hold a grudge against the Apostles, but she prays for them because she knew they needed it. It was Mary who was with them when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in the Upper Room at Pentecost. Mary is a just woman and a just woman forgives.

Mothers are called to grow in the virtue of justice by mirroring the supernatural forgiveness Mary demonstrated in her life. For mothers it starts by courageously reconciling themselves to God through frequent Confession and worshiping God rightly in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Justice is then able to be mercifully extended by the mother to her family and beyond. The key to a just society is strong families. The key to a strong family, one that stays together and builds up the Kingdom of God, is mercy. Therefore, justice and mercy are inextricably intertwined, whereby true justice begins with forgiveness; both seeking forgiveness from God and extending mercy to one another. Today we pray for the mother of the family to be established in the virtue of justice, so as to be able to extend mercy to those in her family who most need it.

DAY 10

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Fortitude

“Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

-Job 20-21

Reflection

When we think of the fortitude of Mary we think of perfect courage, not even afraid to face suffering or death. When Joseph was made to travel to Bethlehem for the census, we see Mary’s fortitude in her willingness to travel approximately 90 miles, perhaps on foot or by donkey, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, late in pregnancy. This would require extreme fortitude to choose to be away from midwives, without a place to stay in Bethlehem, knowing that the baby would probably be born during the journey. The Blessed Mother also exhibits this virtue of fortitude during the passion and death of her Son. Her courage went beyond that of most of the Apostles who ran and hid in fear, while she bravely endured the witnessing of those most brutal events. Mary shows supernatural fortitude that as a mother, she was able to withstand and be of support to her Son through her constant presence with Him, enduring until the end. As Mary followed the way of the cross to Calvary, we see her firmly able to stand at the foot of the cross, instead of falling in a heap to the ground in her sorrow. The sword that was to pierce her heart that was prophesied by Simeon was this immense suffering she underwent during the passion. Despite how hard it was, Mary chose in fortitude to be there for Jesus, even in his darkest moment.

Mothers are charged with nurturing and caring for the family in a way that relies on the mother bravely facing any hardship that comes their way. The mother is called to the virtue of fortitude through sickness, trial and tribulation in a way that expels fear for the rest of the family. As the compassionate heart of the mother consoles, she magnifies the Lord, so that like Mary she is able to persevere in times of trial and anxiety. It is daily prayer that helps form this virtue and actually trains us to walk in faith, hope and love and not in fear. Mary’s life was a continual prayer and it is through her example that mothers can witness to their family this life of prayer that we are all called to. Today we pray for the mother of the family to be free from fear, worry and anxiety and to be purified in fortitude when life’s sufferings come her way.

DAY 11

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Temperance

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

-Galatians 5:22-24

Reflection

The virtue of temperance can drive our human actions towards the good of our soul. It’s important to recognize that the body is good and that material things can be enjoyed as good when they lead us to glorify God. Temperance is the virtue that keeps us from desiring pleasures to the extent that they lead us to sinful indulgence, as well as keeps us from pleasures that are in fact impure and sinful. The Virgin Mary exemplifies this virtue of temperance for us all. Mary consecrated herself freely to God as we see in the doctrine of her perpetual virginity. Through Mary, we understand more fully the virtues of humility, modesty, sobriety, and rest. Mary never sought the spotlight for herself. She did not envy others. Her spoken words at the wedding at Cana show how she aligned her will with the Will of God, “Do whatever he tells you.” It was never about her, but only about her Son and doing the will of God. The natural craving most of us have for grandiose things and self promotion was not the way of Mary; this is why Lucifer hates her so much. Lucifer once held the highest place in heaven, but he desired to be like God and refused to serve. This disordered desire made him fall from grace and Saint Michael threw him out of heaven. Mary, who was given the highest place of humanity on earth, never desired to be more than what the Lord created her to be and chose to serve the Lord in all things.

Mothers hold a special place in the family as the heart of the family. What the mother loves, she leads her family in loving. Lack of temperance in a mother can lead to gluttony, lust, drunkenness, immodesty, and pride in the family. The Blessed Virgin Mary’s way of temperance is exemplified in what she refrained from doing. Her avoidance of reacting in situations that were unfair reveals to us how the virtue of temperance was lived out in and through her. Mary’s perfect humility during her life on this earth is what elevated her by God to the highest place in heaven. Mary has been crowned Queen of Heaven and Queen of the Universe, she has been named Mother of God and Mother of the Church. If we struggle in the area of temperance, who better to call upon than our Queen Mother to help us overcome our worldly desires and make them heavenly ones. Today we ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother for the Mother of our family to be humbly formed in the virtue of temperance.

DAY 12

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.”

-Hebrews 11:1-3

Reflection

When we think of the faith of Mary, or any of her other virtues for that matter, we tend to think everything was easy for Mary, at least in the early part of her life. But we would be mistaken to think this way. The Blessed Virgin Mary, when she appeared to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, once said, “you think that I obtained grace and virtues without effort. Know that I received no graces from God without great labor, constant prayer, ardent desires, and many tears and mortifications.” Though the Blessed Virgin was preserved from original sin, she was not kept from the human conditions that we all endure. During the Annunciation, Scripture tells us that Mary was “deeply troubled” by what the angel told her. In this one statement we can see Mary’s struggle to understand what was happening, but it also reveals to us the depth of her faith. It was her deep prayer life leading up to the Annunciation that strengthened her faith and led her to step out in total surrender at the Lord’s request. Mary no doubt experienced an interior struggle similar to ours when we are faced with troubling situations, but despite the unknowing and not fully understanding, she was completely obedient and submitted to all God asked of her. She had faith in Him and despite her limitations and all of the seemingly impossible things that were being asked of her, she trusted God alone.

When it comes to faith, mothers are called to follow Mary’s example. When faced with confusion, struggle and doubt, mothers should always go directly to God first instead of looking for answers from the world. The one thing mothers, like Mary, should never doubt is God’s bountiful love for them. So many of our own failings stem from the false belief that God does not actually love us or that He only loves us if we do something to deserve His love. The truth is that God’s love has no bounds, no conditions, there are no strings attached. Jesus died so that we would have free access to God’s abundant love for us. All we need do is to have faith in that love and submit to all that God asks of us, just as Mary had the faith to do in her own life. Faith is believing even when we can’t see it. It is knowing that God truly works all things for good if we only have faith in Him. Today we pray for God to increase the faith of the mother of the family so she can totally surrender to the Will of God even when the world seems scary and overwhelming.

DAY 13

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Hope

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope”
-Psalm 130:5

Reflection

The virtue of hope was gifted to Mary and Joseph in a very powerful way at the Nativity of our Lord. In Bethlehem after Jesus was born, the angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields and told them about the newborn King. These shepherds, who exemplify the poorest and least educated of all men, immediately left the fields and went to find the child laying in a manger. When they arrived, they fell down in worship and adoration of the Word made Flesh. As Mary and Joseph witnessed this incredible act of faithful worship, they were filled with hope. All the struggle they had experienced thus far and all the struggle that was to come was put into perspective. The Savior of the world was born into the world. Soon after, the Magi, the wisest of men, arrived bearing gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh for the prophesied Messiah. Mary and Joseph not only witnessed their tenacity in seeking out the Messiah, who was also the Creator of the stars and the sky, but they also watched intently as the wise men knelt in humble adoration of the source of Wisdom. What hope filled the hearts of Mary and Joseph as they pondered the Glory of God manifested in this small child. The adoration of the shepherds and the Magi was an announcement to the nations and a surreal event that infused Mary and Joseph with hope and the truth of the mystery at hand.

The hope that Mary received that night was surely kept aflame in her heart throughout her life. It may have been what sustained her during the passion and death of her Son. How else would a mother be able to endure such heartache and emotional anguish if not infused with the supernatural hope of God. Mary could very well have been remembering the honor and glory that was offered to her Son in Bethlehem during His passion in Jerusalem.

For mothers, it is important to be able to hold onto and keep aflame the moments of hope that the Lord gives. These can easily get forgotten during times of pain and suffering, but by keeping Jesus in the forefront of their minds and hearts, the hope of the Lord will be the grace that is necessary for the situation at hand. Our Blessed Mother Mary was able to witness the horrific events of the passion and death of her Son by recalling the very first night of worship and adoration of Jesus at the Nativity. We are all called to recall and keep aflame the hope we have received through the consolations and affections that God has given to us in our lives. It is these moments of prayer and contemplation that we are to hold near and dear to our hearts, so that we will be able to persevere and find hope in our darkest moments. Today we pray for the mother of the family to be infused with hope and that despair not come near her heart.

DAY 14

Blessed Virgin Mary

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the mother of our family, (name)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Charity

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

Reflection

Mary truly is an embodiment of the charity of God. The magnitude of her charity was seen in her total gift of herself to God at the Annunciation. Through this completely pure love that she shared with the Heavenly Father, she was able to freely share that love of God with every person she encountered. Immediately after the Annunciation, while her future was very uncertain, instead of worrying about her own situation, Mary chose to set out to go care for her cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant. Mary’s actions did not center around herself and her situation, but she left to go help someone else in need. As she brings herself and the Savior of the world to Elizabeth and John the Baptist, Mary chose to focus on the Heavenly instead of on the worldly. The life in her womb was both pure gift and pure miracle. Although the world would reject this miracle, Mary was able to cherish and share her Son as a gift. Scripture tells us that upon hearing Mary’s greeting, John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb and the very words that came out of Mary’s mouth proclaim not the greatness of herself, but instead the greatness of God.

Motherhood requires more sacrifice than any other kind of relationship. This self-sacrifice is the essence of what love is. It is the gift of the cross. Mary’s suffering was always an offering instead of an excuse to despair and give up. For mothers, the virtue of charity is a calling to be lived out in such an intimate and unique way that only women can experience. Through the giving of their very bodies for the housing of new life from the moment of conception, the mother accepts her role and realizes it each and every day. Her mission of motherhood is one in which she is called to participate in by way of divine charity. As she cares for her children both physically and spiritually, she becomes the hands and the heart of the love of God. The opposite of charity is not hate, but indifference and self-centeredness. So often we let our suffering and difficulty turn us inward where we bury the gifts that God gave us so that they are unable to be used in the world. Mary had every reason to turn inward focusing only on herself and her situation, but she does the exact opposite. She will forever be a perfect example to all mothers of the virtue of charity. Today we pray for the mother of the family to be animated by Divine Charity, the self sacrificing love that the world so desperately needs.

Day 15

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Prudence

“Lay all your cares about the future trustingly in God’s hands, and let yourself be guided by the Lord just like a little child.”

– St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (St. Edith Stein)

Read Matthew 25: 14-30: The Parable of the Talents

Reflection

The virtue of prudence requires preparedness. We do not go through life accidentally. There are intentional choices that need to be made each and every day of our lives. Through daily prayer and reconciliation we are able to better understand God’s Will for our lives, so that we may choose His Will in all things. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus teaches us about the virtue of prudence. Everyone received talents from the master, but each made a choice as to whether they would act prudently by investing their talents and multiplying them or act in fear by trying to preserve their talents so as to not lose them. In our own lives it is important to realize that we are all given gifts or charisms of the Holy Spirit and we are called to use for the building up of the Kingdom of God. As Christians this is our duty and it requires the virtue of prudence to carry out this mission. When we are seeking to do God’s Will, the Lord will give us what we need in order to be channels of His Divine Grace for the world; then we will be entrusted with even more. Think of saints such as Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, John Paul II, and the many others whose influence grew and their gifts multiplied the more they prudently obeyed the Lord.

The domestic church is where the children are called to learn prudence by recognizing the gifts and charisms that God has given to each person in the family. We were not made to do life alone. We have all been given people to help us and we all need a Savior. The intimate setting of the family is the perfect setting for children to learn how the Lord works in the lives of every unique human person. The family provides a safe place where each member may discover more about the Lord through their discovery of their own gifts and the gifts of others. As the family works to build one another up in their unique purpose in life, it is important that each person has the opportunity to fall and rise again. Additionally, there is harmony when all of the gifts of a community of persons are shared, so that where one person is lacking, another member is able to serve. This concept starts in the domestic church and then is able to be reflected outward upon the larger Church community. We are all called to find harmony with one another as members of the Body of Christ. Today we pray for the children of the family to grow in the virtue of prudence as the foundation from which the other virtues will flow throughout their life.

Day 16

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Justice

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”
― St. Francis of Assisi

Read Luke 15: 11-32: The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother

Reflection

In this parable it may seem that the prodigal son did not get what was just. After squandering his inheritance, insulting his father and his family, abandoning them and living a life of sin and self-satisfaction, he then comes home to his father who doesn’t punish or forsake him, but who embraces and forgives him. The worldly standards of justice would not see this as justice served, but Jesus’ passion and death was the one act that changed our understanding of forgiveness and mercy. The father in this parable is a reflection of our God in Heaven who is merciful, while the son is a reflection of all of us. If you notice, the prodigal son was convicted before he started his way back home. In verses 18 and 19 he says “I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ These verses show that the son was repentant. He made a confession of sorts, done from his heart, prior to his return. The father, who mirrors our Father in Heaven, must have known that his son’s return meant he had repented, otherwise the son wouldn’t have traveled back to the father. It was an act of humility to return to his father and thus the father, who was merciful, ran to him with open arms welcoming him back home. Our salvation too requires humility and a repentant heart in order for us to receive the mercy of the Father. This is where true justice lies because it is only God who can judge justly. The Lord is the only one who truly knows our hearts. He knows all the details of our circumstances and thus only he can judge us with complete and perfect justice. When the repentant sinner gives himself back to God through repentance, thus rendering to God what is due, God responds with mercy.

The story goes on to show us what it means to judge unjustly. This is a danger we all fall into at certain times in our lives. Some struggle with this more than others. The older son has a hard time forgiving his younger brother and thus he cannot understand the free and complete forgiveness of his father. The older son challenges the father on his mercy and thus he is unable to attend the party for his younger brother because of his own pride. If we are holding on to pride, we will be unable to practice the virtue of justice. By remaining humble of heart and open to the forgiveness of God, we are able to rejoice with the Lord when every repentant sinner returns to the loving arms of the Heavenly Father.

The family is called to live justly with one another. True justice does not include remembering and recalling each other’s faults, but requires freely forgiving as Jesus has done for you. No one is exempt from the command of Jesus, “forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25). As our Heavenly Father is merciful to us, we too are to be God’s mercy for others. This is not something the Lord leaves up to us to interpret, but is a clear command both in Jesus’ words and in his actions on the cross. If we are not forgiving toward our neighbor, the Lord will not forgive us our sins. These words should be at the heart of the family. They should be lived out in the life of the family, so that each member may learn and grow in how to live forgiveness in their daily lives. Today we pray that the children of the family, in order to grow in justice, may recognize when they are wrong and go to confession, giving to God what belongs to him, so that God’s mercy can be received by them.

Day 17

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Fortitude

“Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.’”

– Saint Francis de Sales

Read Luke 18: 1-8: The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

Reflection
The widow in this parable fought for justice despite how hard it was going to be because she believed in the mighty power of God. She continued in fortitude to petition the judge, even though he is described as a man who did not fear God and who had no respect for the people. The woman did fear God and it was her faith in God that gave her the ability to be persistent. By way of the virtue of fortitude, the woman was finally able to change the mind of the judge who eventually chose to show her mercy. Although the intention of the judge and the reason he chose mercy was not righteous, the widow was still able to change her situation and bring about justice because of her fortitude.

In our world today there are plenty of situations that require us as Christians to work for the common good. There are so many injustices that we live with on a daily basis, but as Christians we are called to work for the good of society. When we live in virtue and righteousness, we infuse these things into the culture. Sometimes this means changing the hearts of the people, but other times, like in this parable, it is a win to simply change the outcome for good in our own individual circumstance. The values of the Christian family should always be respected by the state and so the family is ever responsible to uphold the dignity of human life and the right to religious freedom in the social structure. As Christians we must never stop working for these goods in our state and in our homes.

The children of the family learn fortitude by way of their parents first. Through fortitude the parents teach the children how to rely on the power of God to help them persevere. When faced with a seemingly loss or a bleak outcome, the parents need only lean on God as their strength, and the children will take note. As a family, fortitude is needed for both our daily lives, as well as when we encounter major setbacks in our lives. When the family does well to practice fortitude on a smaller more consistent basis, they will do well to have the fortitude necessary to help them through their most difficult times. By choosing consistency in faith on a daily basis, the family will be ready to demonstrate heroic fortitude of faith when life gets tough. Today we pray that the children of the family will grow in fortitude and strength in order that they may bring the love of God to the world rather than the culture of the world ravaging them.

Day 18

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Temperance

”Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?

– St. Gerard Majella

Read Matthew 7: 24-27: Hearers and Doers

Reflection

In this parable we hear Jesus teach about the proactive aspect of temperance. Instead of just avoiding what is evil, temperance is also doing what is necessary now, that which will be for our own good later. As we listen to the Word of God and know the commandments of God, we must also be willing to do what it takes to build a solid foundation in the faith. This is not easy, as it takes hard work, dedication, and consistency, all of which require temperance in order to sacrifice the more pleasurable things that we would rather be doing, instead of doing what is for our own good. We must ask ourselves the following questions: How are we spending our time? Where are we focusing our efforts? Who do we serve, God or the world?

In this parable, the man who built his house upon rock was considered wise. He sacrificed his time and effort on the front end to do what was right before the storm came, so that he would be protected. Through temperance this man had the forethought to set aside what he knew to be more desirable to choose what was necessary for his salvation. Although he was not guaranteed to be saved from the storm, he was able to be better prepared for what was to come. It was temperance that got the wise man to build his house on rock. Conversely, the foolish man built his house upon sand, probably because it was easier, cheaper, or took less time. This man either did not take into account the storm that was to come or else he was not willing to do what it took to prepare for it. He chose comfort and ease over preparedness. Here we can see how the sin of acedia (sloth) and lukewarmness are both opposed to temperance because they lead us to give into our pleasures and comforts, making decisions that will eventually affect our future stability. The foolish man’s house not only fell when the rain and flood and winds came, but Jesus says “and great was the fall of it”. This reminds us that when we are unprepared, when we haven’t learned the importance of the virtue of temperance, the fall that comes will be really hard to take. It may even lead us into despair.

In the family, temperance could be the most important virtue to learn as children grow into adulthood. When children do not learn to avoid sin and to sacrifice their time each day for daily prayer and service to others, they will have a hard time once they leave the comforts of their parents’ home. In the family it is important to cultivate daily prayer, so that the children may grow in love and devotion to the Lord. By learning the virtue of temperance in a proactive way the children will grow to be better prepared when temptations to sin or hardships come their way. When we devote time to God, we naturally fight off and away all evil habits that seem to creep in and consume our time. A well known Irish-American priest of the 20th century, Venerable Patrick Peyton, was famous for saying, “The family that prays together stays together” and “a world at prayer is a world at peace.” Jesus asks us to cooperate in our salvation by building a firm foundation of faith, so that when hardship comes, we will be firm and steadfast in the love of God. Essentially, we will be protected, not necessarily from the storm, but from the effects that the storm could have on our salvation. Today we pray for the children of the family to be formed in temperance and patience so the world can know true happiness doesn’t come from fleeting pleasures and lackadaisical attitudes.

Day 19

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Faith

“Ponder the fact that God has made you a gardener, to root out vice and plant virtue”

-St Catherine of Siena

Read Matthew 13: 1-9: The Parable of the Sower

Reflection

The parable of the Sower reveals to us that there are different levels of faith. Faith is not a one time decision that we make and then we don’t do anything else to cultivate it, rather faith is something that we choose to grow in and live out in our daily lives. When we are cultivating the virtue of faith, we are choosing God each and every moment. This determines the trajectory of our lives. It determines the fruitfulness of the soil of our hearts.

As Jesus teaches in this parable, there are different degrees of faith, which are reflected in this parable by the different places the seed falls upon. When the Word of God falls upon the heart that is not tended to at all in faith, this will be like the seed falling on the path. These seeds have nothing to be implanted into and so it is quickly eaten up by the birds. Thus the Word of God is falling upon all of humanity, but there are those who are unable to hear it due to their lack of faith. Next, the faith that is tended to sparingly is like the seeds falling on rocky ground. These seeds will only grow when things are good and conditions are right, but when things get tough, our roots of faith will not be deep enough and we will not be able to withstand the hardship. Jesus goes on to say that for the hearts that are not purified are like the garden that is full of weeds. The Word of God gets choked out by the weeds of sin as the weeds of a garden often grow quicker and can take over an entire garden quite rapidly. Thus we must always be purifying our hearts of sin through the Sacrament of Confession so that we can pull up the weeds in the garden of our hearts from time to time. The final soil that Jesus describes in this parable is the good soil. This is the soil that has been cultivated through daily mental prayer and reading of Sacred Scripture. This is the soil where the weeds have been pulled at their onset so that they do not choke out the good plants. This is the soil that is well watered and malleable, so that the seeds of faith will have no trouble sprouting up and growing to full maturity. The seeds that fall on the good soil have all they need to bear good fruit.

It is important for each one of us to notice which soil is found in our own hearts. Where is our faith currently? Then as a means of motivating us to be better gardeners of their own hearts, Jesus shows us how we can move into a deeper understanding of what it takes to cultivate the fullness of faith. The children of the family learn this virtue of faith and just how important it is for the sustainability of their lives, to the degree in which their parents talk about and cultivate their own faith. As parents, it is good to focus on both the physical and spiritual support of the children so that they can learn what it means to be healthy in both body and spirit. Parents are the first and primary educators of their children, especially in regards to the faith. When the virtue of faith is lived out and understood in the family, it is handed on as a gift from one generation to the next. Today we pray for the soil of our children’s hearts to be good and cultivated so that faith can blossom within them.

Day 20

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Hope

“The best way to prepare for death is to spend every day of life as though it were the last.”
― St. Philip Neri

Read Luke 15: 1-7: The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Reflection

Jesus remained close with the sinners. He knew that they were in a place where they knew they needed a Savior. We all must come to a point where we too are able to recognize our need for a Savior. No matter how hard we try, we cannot save ourselves and no one else can besides Jesus Christ. This act of humility is something the Pharisees had a really hard time understanding. They thought they could do all the things that were prescribed in the Law of Moses and then they would be saved, essentially they thought their actions could save themselves. But Jesus came to give them a better understanding of the law. He came to fulfill it and to show them that only God can save. The laws were given to them to keep them on the path to salvation, but the laws themselves were not their salvation, Jesus was.

In this parable the shepherd leaves his entire flock so that he can go out in search of the one sheep who had wandered from the fold. This act of personal love for one sheep reminds us of the personal love that God has for each one of us. Even though we are sinners, even though we go astray, the Good Shepherd will always come to find us. He loves each one of us personally and this love means we can be personally saved if we will only let ourselves be found. This love of the God goes even further; when we are found, the Good Shepherd lifts us up, places us on his shoulders, and carries us home rejoicing. He doesn’t condemn us or make an example out of us, but he rejoices at our return home. What a beautiful example this is of God’s merciful love. What hope it instills in us, that although we may wander away from our Good Shepherd, He will always come to find us, and when He does we will be welcomed back fully into his heart.

This model of the Good Shepherd going out to search for the lost sheep is the model for the intimate community of the family. It is important for the children of the family to know that no matter what, their family will accept them and love them. If one member wanders away, someone will go out to find them, never giving up on them, until the lost sheep is found and brought back home. What hope this is, to live in such a family that desires the eternal salvation of each member. What a treasure it is to be a part of a family that hopes in you even when you may have lost hope in yourself. There is a tremendous amount of security that can be cultivated in the family. When the children feel secure in both the love of their parents and the love of God, they are able to stand firm in that love when they go out into the world. Today we pray in hope for all children to find joy in the hope of God and for lost children that they may be found and brought back to the love of the Lord.

Day 21

Divine Child Jesus

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the children of our family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Charity

“Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self.”
— Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Read Matthew 20: 1-16: The Laborers in the Vineyard

Reflection

This parable requires an understanding of the virtue of charity. The heart of the landowner in this story mirrors the charity of God. At first glance of this parable, the problem could seem to be with the landowner and what seems to be an unfair allotment of pay. In reality the problem is with the perception of the workers. So often we spend our entire lives trying to figure out how to earn grace, when in reality God has been there the whole time waiting for us to freely receive it. The landowner, who is a reflection of the Heavenly Father, knew the needs of each worker and desired to give each what they needed. The workers on the other hand, were not operating out of this same charity. They were comparing each other to how long each of them worked to try to justify what they should receive in return. Even though the wage was agreed upon as fair at the beginning by both the landowner and the workers, when the earlier workers saw that all would receive the same wage as the later workers they were overcome with envy. Envy leads to hatred, unforgiveness and bitterness. When God gives he gives in abundance, and he gives based upon our spiritual needs. Some people may need more from God at difficult points in their life. It is not for us to compare and definitely not for us to complain about. We should instead trust in God to decide how to distribute his gifts in charity. In all this, we must remember that God’s blessings are not the same as the blessings of this world. It is God’s nature to love unconditionally. Some of us cannot fathom a God that would love us no matter what and so it’s really hard to understand the virtue of charity. He is choosing you at every moment through charity. He wants to lead you upon a path of purification so that you may glorify Him in all things, but we are often too ashamed or too scared to go on that journey with the Lord. Evenso, God is patient with us and he is waiting for our yes to Him. Once we get that God loves us freely, we can enter into that Love, which stirs our hearts in charity to love one another.

In the domestic church the children first learn to look at others through the eyes of charity. It is important for this to be developed in the safe environment of the family, so that they may then begin to look at the world through the eyes of God’s charity. The virtue of charity helps us to remain grateful for what we have been given, as well as open to receiving even more from the Lord. It also allows us to be truly happy for the blessings of others instead of jealous. It is a virtue of mutual love and thanksgiving. When we see how much the Lord loves our neighbor it should fill our own hearts with joy. When we see how God has blessed us, we should desire that for our neighbor as well. In charity, we should long for the gifts of God to be truly realized in all of humanity, our friends and enemies alike, so that we may all be united in the divine charity of God. Today we pray that the children in the family will be ignited with the flame of Divine Charity towards God and others.

Day 22

The Holy Family

Day of Abstinence: Today refrain from electronic media from sun-up to sun-down, or for at least 1 hour

Heavenly Father, today we pray for our entire family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

God the Father: The first Person of the Blessed Trinity

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”

-1 John 3: 1-3

Reflection

The foundation of who we are as persons is revealed to us through our relationship to God the Father, our Creator. We were created in His image and likeness. We were created in love and are sustained in His love. We were created for a specific purpose and then placed in a specific family, parish, community, and nation to be a beacon of God’s love to the world. How many of us actually believe this? What would the world look like if more people understood this truth?

Each person in your family was created to be light and love. They each have specific gifts and charisms that are to be accessed through the power of the Holy Spirit and used for the building up of God’s Kingdom. As children of God the Father, we are all taught by Him the ways to everlasting life and we also have been commanded to obey Him. When we strive to be obedient sons and daughters, we place ourselves under the protection of God’s providence. Where we are disobedient, we willingly choose to place our souls in danger.

In a variety of ways, many people in our world today are experiencing a severe father wound. So many children have an experience of a father who has corrupted and/or perverted their understanding of fatherhood. With this it is hard for us to relate to God as Father because of our own woundedness. But where we are wounded, God’s redemption is so much more! In all the places where our earthly fathers have failed us, the Lord wants to redeem us by healing our wounds and filling us up where we are lacking.

Today as we abstain from electronic media, it’s important to take an inventory of all that is either a distraction or is harmful to our soul. Consider these things and make a decision from the will to filter out what is not holy, what is not good, what is not building up your faith and strengthening your spirit. Then take the time today to allow God the Father to redeem what you are viewing on a daily basis. The most important part of your day should be to ask God how He sees you. Sit with the Lord today and allow Him to lead you into a deeper relationship with Him.

As a family, you may want to sit down together and tell each other the good you see in one another. Maybe it is a gift of the Holy Spirit or a personality trait that you really admire in the person. You may even want to give examples of how you see them using their gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. Sharing in this way can seem hard at first, but it can be so powerful in strengthening the family and lifting the spirits of those who are struggling. Today we pray that each member of the family understands fully that they are a loved child of a good Father in heaven and that they come to know the first person of the Blessed Trinity..

Day 23

The Holy Family

Day of Abstinence: Today observe silence from sun-up to sun-down, or for at least 1 hour

Heavenly Father, today we pray for our entire family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

God the Son: The second Person of the Blessed Trinity

“Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

-1 John 5: 10-12

Reflection

The life of Christ was freely given to all of humanity through grace at the cross on Calvary. Jesus Christ died so that we would be able to experience the mercy of God and so that we would be saved. But this mercy is not a one time admission and then we are done. This mercy is available to us through our daily participation in the life of Christ. If we truly believe in the Son of God then this belief will shine in our hearts, it will direct our path, it will be given in charity to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Where we are just going along with the motions of our faith, the Divine life of Christ has not been activated within us.

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. God had a thought and the thought was expressed in one Word, who is Jesus Christ. The one Divine Word of God is revealed to us through Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. By taking the time and effort to learn about our faith through Sacred Tradition, as well as reading and praying with Sacred Scripture, we will be able to receive the fullness of the Word of God into our hearts. It is there, in the silence of our hearts, that the Lord speaks to us. How often in our day are we intentionally sitting in the silence in order to hear God’s voice? The more time we commit to the Lord in prayer, the better our relationship with Him will grow and mature and the more clearly we will be able to hear and understand Him. As we grow in virtue and truth, the Lord will then strengthen us for the battle in which He is preparing every soul. This battle is against Satan and we must be well equipped. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God and it is with this weapon that we battle the enemy.

Today as we observe silence, it is important to also be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When we invest time with God in the silence, He is faithful. Read Sacred Scripture today. It is the Lord who speaks to us through our prayerful reading of the bible. As you read, you may want to take notes or journal, but be sure to stop and reflect on the verses or words that stick out to you most. This is the prompting of the Holy Spirit who wishes to reveal something specific to you. Lastly, be sure to sit with the Lord and allow Him to love you as you are today, in this very moment. Allow the Word to sink in and find a dwelling place in you so that your heart will be transformed into the Heart of God.

As a family, you may want to consider coming together to share how the Lord spoke to each one of you personally today. This may be a great time to decide to develop a regular habit of reading the Sunday Gospel together and sharing your personal inspirations from the Holy Spirit with one another. Sharing the Word of God together as a family is a great way to build up the family in faith. No matter how you choose to observe silence and listen to the Lord today, your family will no doubt be strengthened and built up in faith and love with one another. Today we pray that each member of the family look upon the Holy Face of Jesus and recognize that the Second person of the Blessed Trinity became incarnate and died for them to save them, personally.

Day 24

The Holy Family

Day of Fasting: Today fast on bread and water from sun-up to sun-down, or for a specific period of time

Heavenly Father, today we pray for our entire family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit: The third Person of the Blessed Trinity

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are.”

-1 Corinthians 3: 16-17

Reflection
The Holy Spirit is the breath of our very life. When we were conceived in our mother’s womb, it was our father, mother and God himself who were all there for the creation of our body and soul. It was the breath of the Holy Spirit that breathed life into us at our conception. At our Baptism we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and from that day forward, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit. At our Confirmation we are made soldiers for Christ. We are strengthened for the spiritual battle and sent out to do the work that God created us to do for the building up of the Kingdom of God. Each time we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are forgiven and restored. The Spirit flows freely again through us when our sins are purged. Each time we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the mass and receive the Eucharist, we are present at the crucifixion where Jesus sacrifices himself for us. We consume Him and are nourished by the very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. The life of the Holy Spirit is lived out in a real and definitive way through the Holy Sacraments of the Church. What a blessing for us to be able to share in the life of Christ in this most intimate way.

With the awareness that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we have a duty to recognize our dignity, as well as the dignity of every human person. No matter how big or small, no matter how young or old, no matter how simple or intelligent, the Lord dwells in all His creation. Our duty is not only to protect and care for ourselves, body, mind, and spirit, but to also care for the rest of humanity. This is why Jesus tells us, “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Therefore, what we do to ourselves and to others, we do to Jesus. This truth alone should make us consider more carefully how we treat both ourselves and others.

As we fast this day, it is important to recognize that our physical bodies are in need of nourishment. This nourishment gives life to our bodies in a very real way. If we feed our body with things that do not energize us or honor who we are as God’s children, we are doing harm to the gift of our body that God has given us. Likewise, if we feed our soul with things that do not lift up our soul to glorify God then we are doing harm to our soul. Both body and soul need nourishment in order to live and thrive in this life. Our mission as Christians is two-fold in that we must care for both our body and our soul. We cannot neglect one as it would do harm to the other. Physical hunger can remind us of our spiritual hunger that has been placed into our souls. Our longing for God cannot be quenched by any worldly thing, but can only be satisfied by God himself. What are we feeding our soul? How often do we attend to the needs of our soul?

As a family, you may want to take time today to create a family mission statement. Start by discussing what each of you hungers for from the Lord? What does the deepest part of your heart long for? From these longings, begin to craft a mission statement that reveals the heart of the family as a whole. What is the most important aspect of God’s Kingdom that your family will work to build up in this world? Additionally, as you sacrifice your own physical nourishment today, unite this with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Imagine yourself standing under the cross, offering your hunger to the Lord. Then listen to Jesus as he speaks to you from the cross. Pay attention to the person or situation that He places in your heart, as it could very well be the intention He hopes you will sacrifice for this day. Today we pray for an outpouring of the third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, upon each and every family member.

Prayer to the Holy Family
Dear Lord, bless our family. Be so kind as to give us the unity, peace, and mutual love that You found in Your own family in the little town of Nazareth. Saint Joseph, bless the head of our family. Obtain for him the strength, the wisdom, and the prudence he needs to support and direct those under his care. Mother Mary, bless the mother of our family. Help her to be pure and kind, gentle and self-sacrificing. For the more she resembles you, the better will our family be. Lord Jesus, bless the children of our family. Help them to be obedient and devoted to their parents. Make them more and more like You. Let them grow, as You did, in wisdom and age and grace before God and man. Holy Family of Nazareth, make our family and home more and more like Yours, until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with You. Amen

Day 25

The Holy Family

Consecration Day: Feast today in a big way & celebrate this special day!

“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. The future starts today, not tomorrow.”

-St. John Paul II

Heavenly Father, today we pray for the our entire family, (names)

St Joseph, pray for us

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us

Divine Child Jesus, have mercy on us

Virtue of Unity: We are all one body in Christ, what we do to one another affects the entire body

“So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.”
-Romans 12:5

“So that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”

-John 17:21

Reflection

We see in the prayer of Jesus from the Gospel of John, Jesus’ deep longing for union. This union is expressed in his desire that we all be united with the Father as he is, which in turn makes us united with one another. It is God who has placed this desire for unity into our hearts. We were not made to be alone and thus we spend our entire lives searching for authentic relationships. The Father, in his kindness and knowing our nature, creates us at our conception with a mother and father, already in union with others. We enter this world with family, whether or not we live or participate in that family is another story, but no person enters this world without a father and mother, without a biological family; thus our union with one another is significant to our very life.

If our deepest longing is to be one with God, just as Jesus prays for in this prayer from the Gospel of John, then it is in this union with God that we find rest, joy, love, peace, happiness, and fulfillment. Our journey in life is ultimately toward full union with God because this is our destiny for all of eternity. As we are brought into this world in union with other human beings, we are given the opportunity to learn how to seek out and honor relationships that uphold our dignity. It is these relationships that teach us how to grow in virtue and draw us closer to God. The family then is a living school in virtue by which we are called to discover and grow in our own union with God.

Our deepest union we may experience is with God, while our deepest human union we can experience is with our spouse. When a husband and a wife have both made a commitment to draw closer to the Lord, they will be given the graces necessary to live in proper union with one another. It is only through unity with God in our hearts that we can have true unity with one another. The marital covenant confers graces upon husband and wife through their vocation to their spouse. These graces then flow outward for the building up and strengthening of the children.

Both Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary had a personal relationship with God before they entered into a relationship with one another. Scripture tells us that Saint Joseph was a righteous man and that Mary was full of grace. They were each filled with the virtue of God. Though Mary was free from original sin, our faith teaches us that she still had free will and daily chose to not sin, relying as we do on God’s sanctifying grace. Both Saint Joseph and Mary were people of prayer, who knew God. Each of them were prepared for when the angel appeared to them and asked them to do God’s Will. This is why they were able to be obedient, because they were already unified with God the Father through prayer and the law. Their “yes” to God allowed them together as mother and father to bring Christ to the world for all of us.

It is important for every member of the family to develop a personal relationship with Jesus, through which they are made whole. Ideally, this starts with the father and the mother who lead by example and then it is passed down to the children as they eventually set out on their own journey of receiving and participating in the unconditional love of God. On this journey to wholeness, the family structure provides the framework in which to witness the unconditional love of God to one another. This love seeks to lift up the other person. It calls upon the inherent dignity of the other, revealing to them both the love God has for them, as well as the love they share with one another.

How can your family be a witness to unity? A witness shows by way of word and deed what they stand for, what they believe in, what they love and who they love. Unity is what brings people together, in order to restore, heal, and fuse together. From the time of Adam and Eve we see that humans were not made to be alone, but were made for relationship. This is because where two or more are gathered the Holy Spirit resides. When each person in a family is freely able and encouraged to operate in their gifts, the whole family unit is built up. The Kingdom of God can be seen through their witness because the grace comes from God and operates in complete harmony.

As you come together and pray this consecration prayer together today, do so in a spirit of unity. Truly unite your hearts to one another and then from that place, pray in union with the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that your family will be strengthened and renewed. Today you are making a commitment to grow in holiness. May your family, from this day forward, rely on the intercession of Mary and St. Joseph, as well as the saving power of Jesus.

Consecration to the Holy Family Prayer

O Most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, today our family has come together to unite our hearts with yours, Sacred, Immaculate, and Guardian, in order to consecrate ourselves as a family to your Most Holy Family. Our hearts are longing for your presence amongst us. Our hearts are longing for your peace within us. Our hearts are longing for your protection around us. We surrender our desires, our temptations, our troubles, our sorrows, our weaknesses, our blessings and our joys to you. We give you everything, our very lives, and place it all at the foot of the cross of the Divine Child, Jesus Christ, so that we may live only for Him, our King and our Savior. May each member of our family have a heart that is Beloved beating in unison with your three hearts.

O Most Holy Family, we praise and honor you as the archetype of the domestic church. May our family be a reflection of yours, as we practice virtue and deepen in faith, hope and charity. We have been placed together as a family to be a reflection of you, father, mother, sons and daughters. As we live together in our own domestic church, may our home be an extension of the Catholic Church, which is an extension of our eternal home in Heaven. May our life together be ever open to the movement of the Holy Spirit so that we may be full of your grace and peace.

Mary and Joseph, just as you lived your quiet life in Nazareth as parents of the Divine Child, who was the source of Love in your family, may we too keep Jesus as the center of our lives and the center of our family. Teach us to honor and adore Him, to turn to Him first and foremost in our need, and to be witnesses of His love and mercy. May we gaze upon His Holy Face and reach the heights of union that both of you did.

Divine Child Jesus, just as you were obedient to your mother and father on earth, may we as children of our own parents, always remember to honor them in good times and bad. May we learn the virtue of obedience from the family, which will lead us in our obedience to the Heavenly Father as we grow and mature in our faith.

O Most Holy Family, today we consecrate ourselves to you and seek your intercession so that from this day forward, our prayers, our thoughts, our words and our actions will be united to you, who were ever united to the Divine Will of the Triune God. In this we pray, all glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Consecration written by Susan Skinner and Ashley Blackburn

	wednesday 230329… on Divine Mercy, The Great Illumi…
	wednesday 230329… on The Greener Muscle
	wednesday 230329… on My Sacrifice and Yours
	My Sacrifice and You… on Divine Mercy, The Great Illumi…
	My Sacrifice and You… on The Greener Muscle

25 Day Consecration to the Holy Family

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

25 Day Consecration to the Holy Family

Share this:

Like this:

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta