A Blessing for Families

Happy Feast Day of the Holy Family!

Today, our Church celebrates the loving union of Jesus, Mama Mary, and St. Joseph as a very human, yet exemplary faith-filled family.  This author attended the 9AM Mass this morning at my parish of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua then, afterwards, was surprised by the awesome sight of the luminous figure of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of this ministry!) in the sky above my parish!  The image was so clear, it resembled a white cut-out of the Guadalupe Virgin pasted against the blue firmament; actually remaining long enough for me to whisper prayers ... to snap a few cellphone pics ... and to gaze a bit more at her with heartfelt gratitude before she finally faded.  It couldn't have been just a random cloud.

      

The two clearest pics I managed to take.  Tap on

either pic to enlarge or zoom in, and note the figure

of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the center (circled).

So what did it all mean?  There were no words, but in my heart I strongly felt Our Lady manifested her presence ...

• to affirm the sanctity of the traditional family unit

• to bless all families who reverently observed today's feast

• as the Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn (she appeared as a youthful pregnant woman in Mexico), to affirm the sanctity of life and the need to prayerfully defend the Unborn from abortion, which has contributed to the degeneration of our modern families

Lastly, I'd like to suggest that if one has any urgent request concerning a relative(s), today's feast is an opportune time to invoke the intercession of the Holy Family.  I believe this appearance of the Blessed Virgin is a sign that exceptional graces are possible today - the Feast of the Holy Family - for those who ask with confidence.  May the good Lord bless all of our families with sanctity and protection from evil.