By Mary Powers
February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family — a time when we reflect on the hidden life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Egypt and Nazareth. Their home was the ultimate domestic church, living intimately with God through the second person of the Trinity.
Often artistic portrayals of their life depict peaceful scenes of Joseph at work in his workshop with Jesus as Mary sews, quietly watching them work. Others portray their everyday life showing Mary washing clothes in a river with baby Jesus playing on the shore or Joseph showing Jesus how to carve beautiful objects out of wood.
Not shown is their daily praying of the psalms and other traditional daily prayers of the Jewish people. They probably spent time discussing the stories in the Old Testament and the words of the prophets, and praising the faithfulness of God, since the Blessed Mother was raised in the Temple and Joseph was said to be well-versed in the Scriptures. Even though He was God, one can imagine that Jesus delighted in His parents’ love for each other, admired how they treated their neighbors and other virtues that they lived with Him in His youth. These experiences would shape His ministry and teaching.
While portrayed as a model for us all, the Holy Family’s life was not without its stresses. After Jesus was born, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt to protect his family from the jealousy of Herod. Joseph obeyed and took Jesus and Mary to Egypt where they lived for many years. One might imagine how he had to restart his business in a foreign land. Mary took care of their home — making meals, washing dishes, shopping for the family, getting water from the well, doing laundry, all while caring for an infant and toddler. After Herod died, they traveled back to Nazareth where Jesus “advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Lk 2:52)
The external pressures of the world and demands of family life were present just as they are for families today. The Holy Family accepted these challenges and still prioritized prayer, family time and formation in virtue. The Blessed Mother and St. Joseph were models of love in their marriage and in their relationship with their neighbors. Jesus was obedient to His parents, submitting to their authority and parental love. All this provides a guide for families today.
In his Angelus address on the feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 28, 2025), Pope Leo XIV encouraged families to “cherish the values of the Gospel: prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments — especially confession and Communion — healthy affections, sincere dialogue, fidelity and the simple and beautiful concreteness of everyday words and gestures.”
According to the Holy Father, families today can be a “light of hope for the places in which we live: a school of love and an instrument of salvation in God’s hands,” like the Holy Family before them.
Mary Powers is the assistant director of communications and media relations for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
