The Most Blessed Trinity is the first source of model and inspiration to the family. There is perfect love and unity among the three persons of the Trinity. This God of love desired to create other human beings, unto His image and likeness, that they too may enjoy the loving relationships, like the Trinity. “So God created man in His own image, male and female, He created them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”
When the first parents disobeyed God and broke the amicable relationships, God had mercy on them and their descendents and decided to set it right. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16) So Jesus came to this earth and lived in a family and sanctified family life. He attended the wedding at Cana and later instituted the sacrament of marriage among the seven sacraments, to nourish Christian life.
The parents and relatives play an important role in fostering the love of Jesus in a Christian family. It is the mother who takes the little baby to the family altar and shows the statue or picture of Jesus and teaches it to kiss it. I remember our late Sister Clarice telling us very joyfully how she wanted her niece to utter the first – “Jesus” and she used to repeat it several times so that the baby heard it constantly. When finally the baby said the word “Jesus” Sister Clarice experienced the joy of a great victory. The family Rosary and devotions, Feasts of the Lord, Scripture reading, Hymns, - all contribute their share in fostering the love of Jesus. Giving alms to the beggars who come home, sharing food with the hungry help the children to be like Jesus and grow in His love and love for the needy.
We have the beautiful example of St. Therese who, in her home was helped to love Jesus even from her infancy. Looking at the starry sky she told her father that her name was written in the heavens. She did everything out of love for Jesus and saved souls, thus earning the title of Patroness of Missions. A virtuous family is the garden of vocations.
Mary and Joseph loved Jesus in the family of Nazareth. The family is termed as domestic Church. Every Pope has taught the importance of the family in fostering the love of Jesus and His Kingdom. Pope John XXIII loved children. On October 11, 1962, he told the large crowd at St. Peter’s square, “Go home tonight and give your children a kiss and tell them that this comes from the Pope.” Jesus allowed women with children come to Him so as to bless them. “Jesus, bless all families on this earth!”
Sister M. Rosetta A.C.
Stella Maris Convent, Kotekar
