Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, although still in the octave of Christmas, our Gospel reading reminds us of how Mary and Joseph following Jewish tradition, present Jesus at the temple. Simeon sings his song the Nunc Dimitis which is sung each day by the Church in night prayer.
And a message for families from Pope Francis in a letter written for the feast of the Presentation 2nd February 2014.
And a message for families from Pope Francis in a letter written for the feast of the Presentation 2nd February 2014.
I am writing this letter to you on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. The evangelist Luke tells us that the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, in keeping with the Law of Moses, took the Baby Jesus to the temple to offer him to the Lord, and that an elderly man and woman, Simeon and Anna, moved by the Holy Spirit, went to meet them and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah (cf. Lk 2:22-38). Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally “seen” salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigour and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support… Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.
Pope Francis, letter to Families
Feast of Presentation 2nd February 2014