We are to consecrate ourselves to God under the union of a family. That is the pretence with which we come before God, to claim His kindness and mercy because we belong to a family. We are [pg 074] not isolated creatures, looking for our selfish ends, but we are a union of individuals constituted under a certain authority, which gives us a claim to the respect of God and man; for God has said, “Where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”—Matt. xviii. 20. The formula of consecration of a Christian family has been given us by the Sovereign Pontiff himself; rules, regulations, and by-laws have been given to this society under the same authority of the Holy Father. The whole Christian family should be so united among themselves, that there be but one family under one head, set over all to rule them by its supreme power. We belong to this Christian family of the Church; let us then unite for the common good of all.
Prayer.
O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.
Fourth Day.
The scope of the pious association of the Holy Family is that all Christian families be consecrated to the Holy Family of Nazareth, placing it before themselves for veneration and imitation; offering up every day before its image prayers in its honor, and practising in their lives the sublime virtues which the Holy Family offered for imitation to every grade of society. The rich will find a model before them, the learned and highly educated will know exactly what to do according to the dignity of their position, the working class, especially, will find here the guidance and friendship needed in their temptations and troubles. The Holy Family is a [pg 075] poor, working, humble family, as poor as the poorest, as laborious as the most hard-working, as humble as the most lowly.
Prayer.
O most loving Jesus, etc., etc.