# Homily by Fr Patrick Rooney, OP.  Feast of the Holy Family, December 28, 2025

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/st-dominic-s-weekly-328314/homily-by-fr-patrick-rooney-op-feast-of-the-holy-family-december-28-2025
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/st-dominic-s-weekly-328314/homily-by-fr-patrick-rooney-op-feast-of-the-holy-family-december-28-2025.md
Podcast: [St. Dominic's Weekly](https://stenobird.com/podcast/st-dominic-s-weekly-328314)
Published: 2025-12-29T02:00:20+00:00
Episode link: https://stdominicsweekly.podbean.com
Audio file: https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/53f6fba5-5ecc-4306-98b4-04800a712d78/episodes/53fc9e52-1367-439b-ba0f-ee256727bf34/audio/88c2bf43-a70d-47e3-b6ca-80b5d3597112/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=UhvHzFKD
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Duration seconds: 713

## Resource

The family serves as a primary classroom for spiritual development, teaching essential virtues through daily life. By examining the Holy Family, we find a blueprint for practicing forgiveness, prayer, and trust during both joy and hardship.

## Highlights
- Main idea: The family functions as a lifelong school where fundamental human and spiritual virtues are mastered
- Practical takeaway: Use the family unit as a training ground for practicing forgiveness through repeated, difficult interactions
- Practical takeaway: Establish the home as a 'school of prayer,' whether through communal ritual or individual intercession
- Failure mode: Viewing family stress as purely negative rather than an opportunity to practice trust in God
- Main idea: The humanity of Jesus required him to learn basic life skills within a family structure, setting a precedent for all families

## Topics

Holy Family, Christian Virtues, Forgiveness, Prayer, Trust in God, Gospel of Matthew, Family Life, Spirituality

## Chapters
- 2:00 — The Flight to Egypt: A reading from the Gospel of Matthew describing Joseph's divine instruction to protect the child from Herod.
- 4:00 — The Family as a School: An exploration of how Jesus, in his humanity, had to learn basic life skills like walking and talking within a family setting.
- 6:00 — The School of Forgiveness: Discussing the difficulty of forgiving relatives and how the family provides the necessary practice for this virtue.
- 7:00 — The School of Prayer: Reflecting on the importance of cultivating a habit of prayer and interceding for family members.
- 8:00 — The School of Trust: Examining how the hardships faced by the Holy Family serve as a model for trusting God during modern family stresses.

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## Transcript

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