Saint of the Week

Feast of the Holy Family

 

On Easter 2006, my husband converted to Catholicism.  He had gone to mass with me for a decade.  He had sung in the choir and helped with numerous youth ministry tasks.  One day I said to him, "You should just convert."  So, he did.  Dutifully he attended classes.

At long last the Easter Vigil arrived.  Our two children were quite well behaved through the lengthy service.  Maybe it was because we were front and center.  I was proud to be my husband's sponsor as he was confirmed, but it wasn't until communion that it all hit home.  As we sang the Lamb of God, I realized that this was the first time that my husband and I could receive communion together.  My eyes filled with tears.  I squeezed his hand and smiled.  On cue we stood and made our way to the aisle. All eyes were upon us. Sensing my son did not follow, I turned to see him still in the pew.  I motioned for him to come.  He "whispered", "I can't my foot is stuck in the kneeler".  So much for the Hallmark moment!  I  went back and helped him untangle his foot and we moved on.  By then my husband had already received the Eucharist and was back in the pew.

 

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family.  I often wonder what life was like for them. I absolutely love the Willow Tree Nativity figures of the Holy Family.  They are faceless but their bodies express pure love and adoration.  Maybe they are faceless because we are supposed to put our faces in there and allow our bodies to express nothing but love and adoration for the Christ child. 

 

This past advent, I had fervently prayed to the Holy Family, for my family.  Exasperated by the daily sibling rivalry, the blow ups, the bills, the pets and the chores; I wanted my family to be more like them.  It seemed that the harder that I prayed, the more things got messed up.  Then I realized something.  God does not want us to be statues.  God wants us to love and adore him whether you are having a Hallmark moment or your foot is stuck in the kneeler.

 

That's what makes a family holy.