The Archdiocese of Milwaukee celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family on Sunday, Dec. 26, remembering the example of the blessed virgin Mary, St. Joseph and the infant, Jesus. 

The Feast of the Holy Family is a day of obligation in the Catholic Church, meaning that the faithful are expected to attend if they are able. 

“Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. On this last Sunday of the year, pray with your family and be thankful for all of the blessings God has given you. Look to the Holy Family for inspiration as you come to Mass. Have a wonderful day!” the Archdiocese of Milwaukee posted on Facebook.

There are a number of churches in Wisconsin that are named in honor of the Holy Family, including Fond du Lac, Woodruff and Brillion.

“St. Joseph, a carpenter, was engaged to Mary when she became pregnant with Jesus. Although he knew the baby wasn’t his, adulterous women could be stoned to death, so he decided instead to send her quietly away. However, an angel visited him and told him that he should take Mary as his wife, because the child she carried was the son of God. Joseph trusted the angel and married Mary. Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travelers, immigrants and happy deaths,” according to Catholic.org.

Much of what we know about St. Joseph is found in Matthew 1:19-25, in which the angel appeared to Joseph and instructed him about what was going to happen with his betrothed, the blessed virgin Mary. 

“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[a] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[b] because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'[c] (which means 'God with us'). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”