Devotion to the Holy Family became popular in the 17th century. In 1921 the Feast honoring the Holy Family was established for the Universal Church on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Today the Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the first Sunday after Christmas, unless Christmas itself falls on a Sunday, then the celebration is moved to December 30.
The devotion to the Holy Family is built around the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life with Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family is looked upon as the ideal family that we of today can pattern our families upon.
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