The example of the Holy Family: Do you follow it?

There is no community as sacred as the family. When we reflect on the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph, we see modeled for us how to be as a member of our own family. Whether we're a father, a mother, or a child, the Holy Family shows us how to be. It is important we remind ourselves of this often.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - June is Heartbeat of the Family month on Catholic Online and it is a special campaign where we honor the role of the family in our lives. All of us are members of a family. Even if our parents are gone and we live alone, we are still members of the human family. We belong to a Church community, or at least one is available to us. And of course, most of us do have family members about us.

The question we must always keep before us is, how to be as a member of this family? When we make choices, those choices do not simply affect us, but they affect our family as well. For example, when we choose what hobbies to pursue or what programs to watch on television, we impact our family. When we decide what music will be allowed in our house or which websites to visit, these decisions are not made in a vacuum.

Take a look at the Heartbeat of the Family collection.

While our first duty is always to God, a close second is to our family. It is important that we take time to reflect on our choices and what impact those choices have on our family. Am I serving my family with the choices I make?

And if I am single, am I serving my human family by the choices I make? Can the reflection of my parish family be seen in how I behave?

Families are busy, and we often leave little room for reflection and for God. Mass becomes secondary to Sunday activities and we can be so busy, so in a hurry to eat that we skip praying before meals, assuming that God knows our gratitude. We refuse to pray in public because we don't want to offend anybody and we listen to the music we like and watch television we find entertaining, regardless of the values it imparts because it's fun and easy to let things be.

However, we are not called to follow an easy example.

The Holy Family was devoted to duty. Joseph reported for Octavian's census, traveling with his family a great distance to comply. Mary was a doting mother, always caring for her Son, even after his crucifixion. Joseph was loyal, he respected Mary's obligation to God, her chastity and vocation. Joseph followed a vocation of his own, teaching his son carpentry and certainly protecting him as he grew.

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We too are called to do the same. We must respect our spouses and the vows they make with respect to God. We must care for our children, teaching them, providing for them, and raising them up in the faith which will make all the difference in their lives to come. As children, we must be obedient and respectful, honoring our fathers and our mothers.

To commemorate the family, Catholic Shopping .com has a selection of family products available for those who wish to be always reminded of the example we should follow. Every household should have a small shrine, or at least a single item to serve as a reminder of the importance of the Holy Family.

Browse the Heartbeat of the Family collection today and choose your item of remembrance. Honor the Holy Family and your own.

May your family know the peace and wisdom of the Lord and remain strong as long as you shall live.

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