A Message from Father Nathan
My dearest people closest to my heart!
God bless you and your generous heart.
Celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family
This week we are celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family. This feast is on the first Sunday after Christmas.
What is the Feast of the Holy Family
This Feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together, and the celebration focuses on religious family life, because of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
This feast day was formally instituted in 1921 under Pope Benedict XV. It was originally celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany (January 6, the Feast of the Holy Family was moved to the Sunday after Christmas in 1969, bringing it within the Christmas season.
Learning to Live as the Holy Family
To best learn how to live as the Holy Family did, we must incorporate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph into our lives through affection. As within our own families, analysis and reason are insufficient when it comes to enduring trials.
Only love, supplemented by faith and hope, will suffice. As human beings, love is a choice that we are always free to make. Thus, the Gospels and Church, particularly in her liturgy, stress Jesus’ total freedom in giving His life for us. Embracing the Holy Family means accepting them as they are – and ourselves as well.
Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) of the Scriptures
Lectio divina is Latin for “divine reading” and is a traditional Christian practice of reading, meditating, and praying the Bible to deepen one’s understanding of God’s word and to commune with God:
- Reading: Slowly and reflectively read a short passage of Scripture aloud. Pause on words or phrases that resonate with you.
- Meditation: Reflect on what you read.
- Contemplation: Contemplate on what you read.
- Prayer: Respond to God in prayer.
We (re)discover the Holy Family through the process of lectio divina on the Scriptures, by which we invite them into our lives and open ourselves to the Spirit. Traditional devotions such as the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross are proven ways of entering into the mystery.
We embrace them as we would a family member, and in a different way they are no less challenging. They long to become part of us, related by adoption through human and divine choice.
The Perfect Time to Renew Devotional Practices
The Feast of the Holy Family is a wonderful time for Catholics across the theological spectrum to renew their devotion to them. Devotion to the Holy Family and love of family are complementary practices as the former is the model of the local and universal human family. Embracing the Holy Family means entrusting ourselves to them like a child, in the manner proposed by Jesus (cf. Lk 18:16-17). Through emulation in prayer, service, and obedience, we cultivate this enthusiastic disposition. Venerable Fulton Sheen inscribed “JMJ” in remembrance of the Holy Family whenever he wrote religious reflections and instructions
Wishing all of you a prosperous New Year 2025.
With lots of love and blessings.
Ever wanting to be faithful to your service,
— Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan
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Past Messages from Father Nathan
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 31, 2020 | Pentecost Sunday
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 31, 2020 Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart! Welcome Back Glad to see some of you are back in the church. I am also glad to still see some of you quarantining at home,...
Memorial Day | Ragged Old Flag
Ragged Old FlagI walked through a county courthouse square, On a park bench an old man was sitting there. I Said, “Your old courthouse is kinda run down.” He said, “Nah, It’ll do for our little town.” I said, “Your flagpole has leaned a little bit, And That’s a Ragged...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | Plan to Return to Worship
Father Nathan St Gabriel | Welcome Back To Worship A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart! CHURCH OPENING There is light at the end of the tunnel! St. Gabriel Church, like all other churches in our country, has been closed due to the...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 24, 2020 Spiritual Communion
What’s the Eucharist?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1324-1327), states, I take pride in quoting it all the time. Each and every word has to be underlined. Every word accentuates the importance of the Eucharist: “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit’…
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 17, 2020
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 17, 2020 A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart! I hope and believe you are doing great and staying safe. My prayers are always with you. Please be assured of it. Beginning to Plan for a safe Reopening ...
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 10, 2020
Father Nathan St Gabriel | May 10, 2020A Message from Father NathanMy dearest people who are close to my heart! Daily Prayers For Each of You I hope and believe that you are doing great and staying safe. My prayers are always there for you. Please be assured...