Every Catholic marriage has moments when spouses find themselves facing challenges they did not anticipate.

Mary and Joseph were betrothed when an angel visited her to explain how she would become pregnant. During betrothal, which lasted about a year, the woman stayed at home with her parents. Mary was already in her sixth month, so imagine the pressure on Mary and Joseph as they began their marriage. Even the holiest couple would find a situation like this difficult. How did Mary and Joseph do it?

The first thing we know is that they both listened to the message of the angel: Mary to have the baby, and Joseph to take Mary as his wife. They participated in God’s plan. Neither one of them turned away and refused the message of the angel, which indicated they trusted God. When modern couples have difficult times, they must be willing to understand what God is asking of them and to follow it faithfully.

Second, Mary and Joseph followed the traditions of their faith. They were married and went to Bethlehem for the census. Joseph was from the house of David, the king who reigned 1,000 years earlier, and Bethlehem was his hometown. They were required to follow the Jewish law, as well as abide by the Roman law, and going to Bethlehem helped them fulfill both.

ACTION PLAN

• Take time this month to learn something new about the Catholic faith, whether that is from a podcast, a book or a class.
• Embrace all that happens in your life as a couple and see it as part of God’s plan for you.

Third, they returned to Nazareth and created a holy home for Jesus, as he lived the Jewish faith, learned how to read and study the religious law, and became a good Jewish man. We know from the Gospel of St. Luke that Jesus took the scroll of Isaiah and read from Chapter 61. He knew how to read, and he knew the Jewish law.

Fourth, Jesus’ parents taught him integrity. He lived a life of virtue and holiness, relying on God at every moment of his human life, from the moment of his baptism to the moment he said, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” which is the first line of Psalm 22. Every Jewish person knew that if a Jew was not able to recite an entire Psalm, all they had to do was say the first line and everyone knew they meant the entire Psalm. Psalm 22 ends with the proclamation that Jesus trusted God completely.

Therefore, in our marriages, we can learn from the Holy Family. First, things might happen that we do not anticipate, and we must remain faithful. Second, we must follow our Catholic faith, through understanding our identity, the sacraments, Catholic social teaching, and the lives of the saints, to know how we must live. Third, we must take time to study our faith, and fourth, we will benefit from memorizing our favorite Scripture passage, which might be referred to as our life verse and will guide us in times of distress. Yes, there is so much we can learn from the Holy Family!