In December, our thoughts turn to the Holy Family. We celebrate the Marian feasts of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. And of course, all those Christmas carols — even though they’re a bit out of season — remind us that Baby Jesus’ birthday is coming soon. So it’s entirely appropriate that this twelfth and final downloadable worksheet focuses on the Holy Family. If you haven’t already, pick up a copy or two of our book, The Four Keys to Everlasting Love. And God bless you! TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE WORKSHEET, CLICK HERE.
Chapter 12
Turning into a Happier, Holier Family:
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Can Show You How
The Holy Family is the best role model that any family could possibly ask for. Our Blessed Mother Mary is a shining example of grace under pressure, faith in the face of uncertainty, and perseverance through the hardest of life’s challenges. St. Joseph is a pre-eminent father figure, protective, strong, and willing to share all with no expectation of return. As individuals we can ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do,” or WWJD? As members of a family we can ask ourselves, “What would the Holy Family do,” or WWHFD?
Manny and Karee describe the Holy Family in Chapter 12 of The Four Keys: “God was the center of their lives — not sex, money, or even work. The Holy Family shows us that marriage is more than just the union of two people. Marriage is the union of two people with God through each other.”
Chapter 12 sums up each of the four essential characteristics of faithful, free, fruitful, and total married love and shows how Mary and Joseph modeled those characteristics throughout their lives. The example of the Holy Family reveals how:
- to remain faithful in times of joy and sorrow
- to use our freedom wisely to work and serve for others’ sake
- to cherish our spouses’ precious bodies, and
- to love totally through self-giving parenting and constant prayer
As Manny and Karee say, “God has handed you the keys to everlasting love: how to love faithfully, freely, fruitfully, and totally, both now and forever. Unlock the door and step through.”
Conversation Starters
You can use the following conversation starters to get a discussion going between yourselves or in a small group. If it helps, think it over on your own time, take it to prayer, and jot down your answers before talking about them.
1. Do you see any similarities between your life and the Holy Family’s? What are they?
2. How easy is it to make God the center of your family life? What would make it easier?
3. What pulls you away from God the most?
4. What unites you most as a couple? As a family? How can you become more united?
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