Pope
St. John Paul II writes:
For every believer, and especially for
Christian families, the humble dwelling place in Nazareth is an authentic
school of the Gospel. Here we admire, put into practice, the divine plan to
make the family an intimate community of life and love; here we learn that
every Christian family is called to be a small “domestic church” that must
shine with the Gospel virtues. Recollection and prayer, mutual understanding
and respect, personal discipline and community asceticism and a spirit of
sacrifice, work and solidarity are typical features that make the family of
Nazareth a model for every home.
Prayer
to the Holy Family:
Jesus,
Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love; to you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again experience violence, rejection and division;
may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s
plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer.
Amen. (Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, 325)
Both
icons are by Kateryna Shadrina a Ukrainian contemporary artist. In addition
to painting, she creates graphics and bas-reliefs. Her works are in private
collections in Ukraine, Russia, France, Italy, Australia, Canada, USA and the
Netherlands.
"I
came to icon painting consciously. The impetus for this was the theoretical
basis. I wanted to make art that makes sense, and the language of icon painting
is meaningful and comprehensive. Some say that the icon is a spatial boundary
between the visible and invisible world - in that case, the study of sacred art
is not just exciting but also responsible."
