The XIX Century

by C.L. Stoeber, SF

In the life of the Church during the XIX century, there appear three important associations, all bearing the name of “Holy Family,” that form the historical devotional background against which Pope Leo XIII will launch his own great “Nazareth” movement to promote the Holy Family as the “Model” or “Exemplar” of all Christian families. The three associations in question are the following:

• Archconfraternity of the Holy Family

The Archconfraternity of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, is established in Liege, Belgium, in 1844, by a certain “Captain” Bellatable, approved by the local bishop, and later by Pope Pius IX. The association’s primary emphasis is spiritual, though having at the same time certain social and humanitarian dimensions. Its main goals are to honor and imitate the Holy Family; to acquire a deeper knowledge and understanding of the faith; to live a more authentic practice of religion; to be apostles in the renewal of the family; to unify the people, the poor and rich alike, through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The members bind themselves to pray together, to read and meditate on the Word of God, and to consecrate themselves to the Holy Family.

It is not long before the association expands throughout various countries of Europe and extends itself even to America, Africa and Australia. Following the reorganization of Pope Leo XIII in 1892, the Sacred Congregation of Rites declares, on 13 February 1894, that said association is permitted to continue in existence only under the conditions that it conform to the Bull of Pope Clement VIII and that only persons, and not families, be inscribed as members.

• Universal Association of Families

The Universal Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family is founded in 1861 by the Jesuit priest Phillip Francoz at Lyon, France. Pope Pius IX becomes immediately interested in this new movement, and writes Fr. Francoz a personal letter in 1870, congratulating him for the thousands of families already inscribed in the association. Its main purpose is to consecrate Christian families to the Holy Family of Nazareth while promoting the renewal of sound family customs and traditions through the daily practice of the domestic virtues made manifest in Nazareth. Each consecrated family is encouraged to renew its consecration to the Holy Family each day before a picture/statue of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

• Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family

The diocesan priest Seraphim Giorgi, in Bologna, Italy, founds in 1865, the Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which Pius IX designates as the “primary” association. This association has as its first purpose also the consecration of Christian families to the Holy Family, the promotion of the spirit of prayer together in the home, the daily practice of the domestic virtues, the enthronement of a picture or statue of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the home, and the daily repetition of the prayer, Blessed Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, enlighten us, assist us, and save us.

A TIME OF CONSOLIDATION

At the century’s end, these three associations and the many other smaller “Nazareth” movements emerging alongside of them pave the way for Rome to speak out more decisively on the whole matter of devotion to the Holy Family.

Already in 1866, a good number of Church prelates from Italy and Spain are asking Pope Leo XIII to consecrate all Christian families of the world to the Holy Family. The Pope, however, feels that it is not yet the appropriate time for such a worldwide consecration.

A few years later, in 1889, first Fr. Louis Biashelli, and later Augustine Cardinal Bausa, archbishop of Florence, request from the Pope an official prayer for families to say in promoting the devotion of the Holy Family. Leo XIII responds by composing himself a “formula of consecration” for all families to recite whenever consecrating themselves to the Holy Family, together with a daily prayer to be recited before a picture or statue of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The Pope also firmly insists that “the virtues practiced by the Family of Nazareth are necessary for the overall well-being of both the human family and society. Furthermore, the common good of society, whose basic unit is the family, results from the existence of genuine Christian families.”

Around this time the Sacred Congregation of Rites takes a more serious look at solving the complex problems arising from an ever increasing number of associations bearing the name of the “Holy Family.” To resolve the confusion and disorder, Leo XIII publishes his apostolic brief Neminem Fugit on 14 June 1892, by which he brings together into one single association all the existing confraternities and/or associations, notwithstanding their name, origin, purpose or foundation. This new association is given the title of Universal Pious Association of Families Consecrated to the Holy Family. By doing so, the Holy Father makes it clear that “devotion to the Holy Family is not an optional practice,” since Christ himself chose to be born into a human family, to grow in knowledge and grace within a given household, and to begin the work of human redemption from within a home, thus demonstrating to the whole world the supreme importance of the human family institution. It is for this that he urges each Christian family to return “to Nazareth and drink from there the true spirit of genuine Christian living.”

Several months later, the first Rules and Norms of the Association are published by the Pope’s Cardinal Vicar, the President of the Association, who sends them out to all the bishops of the world, urging that said association be established throughout all the dioceses of the Church.

At the same time, the bishops urge the Holy Father to extend the Feast of the Holy Family, with its own proper Mass and liturgical Office, to the Universal Church. The Pope responds affirmatively, setting the Feast on the first Sunday after the Epiphany (though it is now the Sunday between December 25 and January 1).

Saint Joseph Manyanet, Apostle of the Holy Family

Among the many who worked so hard to further the devotion of the Holy Family, one merits special mention: it is the priest and founder Saint Joseph Manyanet y Vives (1833-1901). After being ordained a priest and several years of diocesan apostolate, he decides to give himself to work for the re-Christianization of the family through the education of children and the youth. He first goes to Nazareth to dwell in spirit with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, becoming himself a “son” of the Holy Family, then a “witness” of their virtues and holiness, later a “prophet” of the family mystery and gospel made manifest in Nazareth, and, finally, an “apostle” in the service of the human family institution.

It is his intuitive grasp of the wisdom contained in Nazareth which informs the structure and content of his daily prayer life and meditation, and becomes the source of his inspiration and resourcefulness in the pursuit of his long goal: “to make each family a holy family and each home a new Nazareth.”

In time he founds two religious families – the Sons and Daughters of the Holy Family– to counteract the various evils threatening the human, spiritual and religious welfare of the family in his own day and age. He seeks the renewal of Christian marriage and of the family primarily through Catholic education and sound religious formation of children and youth, especially with regard to the poor and needy.

To further his proposed goal in life, Joseph Manyanet begins publication of a family monthly magazine called The Holy Family. Already in the second issue, that of 1899, Joseph Manyanet makes clear to all his followers their present and future involvement with “Nazareth”: “The title of our religious family sums up our ideal. It acquaints us with who we are and where we are going. We are Sons in love with the Holy Family, and will untiringly endeavor to see It formed in the bosom of all families. The Holy Family is our motto, our point of departure, and the goal of our aspirations.”