The Holy Family
From Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers
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The Holy Family is a trio of Catholic spirits, consisting of Saint Joseph, The Virgin Mary, and young Jesus. Root doctors petition the Holy Family on behalf of clients who are seeking peace in the home, harmonious family relations, and to keep the family intact despite problems such as sickness, career moves, and threats of divorce. The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated each year on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day; If both holidays are Sundays, the feast is celebrated on December 30.
Although little is said about the life of the Holy Family in the Bible, we do know that Saint Joseph was a carpenter, that Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, that soon thereafter, the family fled to Egypt for safety, and that when still a young boy, Jesus showed his brilliance in discourse with the priests in the Temple. Several non-canonical religious works, including "The Infancy Gospel of Thomas," present stories about young Jesus, but they are considered apocryphal works, which means that although they may contain some truth drawn from oral tradition, they are not part of official church lore. Devotion to the Holy Family was not a feature of Catholic faith in early times, but gained popularity in the 17th century and grew steadily in favour thereafter. On October 26, 1921 the Congregation of Rites under Pope Benedict XV placed the Feast of the Holy Family into the Latin Rite general calendar. Until 1969, the Holy Family feast was kept on the first Sunday after the Epiphany. It was transferred to its current date, between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, in 1969.
Images of the Holy Family depict Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in attitudes of tenderness and warmth, the model of a happy as well as a holy family.
