Pave Leo XIII om familien
Den hellige familie er det beste eksempel som fins for dagens familier, skriver pave Leo XIII, i dette apostoliske brevet fra 1892. (De fleste vet at den nye og den tradisjonelle liturgiske kalenderen er ganske forskjellige, og i dag feires festen for den hellige familie i den tradisjonelle kalenderen, og i år faller faktisk festen for Jesu dåp bort. Personlig syns jeg at å feire den hellige familie i romjulen – som i den nye kalenderen – er like naturlig. Men om to uker begynner førfatsetiden (Septuagesima søndag) i den tradisjonelle kalenderen, og jeg syns det er et stort tap at den perioden falt helt bort ved luturgirevisjonen.)
Slik skriver pave Leo XIII (fra matutins 4., 5. og 6. lesning):
From the Apostolic Letters of Pope Leo XIII – Breve Neminem, 14 June 1892
When God in his mercy determined to accomplish the work of man’s renewal, which same had so many long ages awaited, he appointed and ordained this work on such wise that its very beginning might shew to the world the august spectacle of a Family which was known to be divinely constituted; that therein all men might behold a perfect model, as well of domestic life as of every virtue and pattern of holiness: for such indeed was the Holy Family of Nazareth. There in secret dwelt the Sun of Righteousness, until the time when he should shine out in full splendour in the sight of all nations. There Christ, our God and Saviour, lived with his Virgin Mother, and with that most holy man Joseph, who held to him the place of father. No one can doubt that in this Holy Family was displayed every virtue which can be called forth by an ordinary home life, with its mutual services of charity, its holy intercourse, and its practices of godly piety, since the Holy Family was destined to be a pattern to all others. For that very reason was it established by the merciful designs of Providence, namely, that every Christian, in every walk of life and in every place, might easily, if he would but give heed to it, have before him a motive and a pattern for the good life.To all fathers of families, Joseph is verily the best model of paternal vigilance and care. In the most holy Virgin Mother of God, mothers may find an excellent example of love, modesty, resignation of spirit, and the perfecting of faith. And in Jesus, who was subject to his parents, the children of the family have a divine pattern of obedience which they can admire, reverence, and imitate. …