Did you know that a Catholic bishop once had a primetime television show about Faith? He even won an Emmy in 1953 for the most outstanding television personality, beating Lucille Ball among others. For five years Bishop Fulton Sheen instructed America in the Catholic faith. And every time he went to write on his blackboard the first thing he wrote were the letters “JMJ.” In this way he consecrated his television ministry to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
An entire generation of Catholic schoolchildren learned to write “JMJ” at the top or in the margins of their papers. This was a prayer, an offering of their work to Jesus in his Holy Family.
The theme of our adult formation program is “faith begins with family.” Family virtues are different from other kinds of virtues and the Church teaches that there is something special to learn from the “Holy Family.” Purity, patience, faith, noble suffering, hope and obedience are all there in the life of the family of Our Lord.
At the core of the family is faith, from the faith of Abraham and Sarah to the faith of Joseph and Mary. God entered into their lives with a miraculous gift, as all children are a gift from God. And as we are all someone’s children, we are all gifts from God and ultimately, we belong to Him. God acts upon our families and we must remain open to Him and ready to do His will, in faith.
Pax Vobiscum
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph