From the Apostolic Letters of Pope Leo XIII

From today's Office of Matins:

Lectio 4 De Litteris apostolicis Leonis Papae Decimi Tertii Breve Neminem fugit 14 Iunii 1892 Miséricors Deus cum humánæ reparatiónis opus, quod diu sæcula exspectábant, perfícere decrevísset, ita eiúsdem óperis ratiónem ordinémque dispósuit, ut prima ipsa eiúsdem inítia augústam mundo exhibérent spéciem Famíliæ divínitus constitútæ, in qua omnes hómines absolutíssimum domésticæ societátis, omnísque virtútis ac sanctitátis intueréntur exémplar. Talis quidem Família éxstitit Nazarethána illa, in qua, ántequam géntibus univérsis pleno lúmine emicuísset, Sol iustítiæ erat abscónditus: nimírum Christus Deus, Servátor noster, cum Vírgine Matre et Ioseph, viro sanctíssimo, qui erga Iesum patérno fungebátur múnere. Mínime dúbium est quin ex iis láudibus, quæ in societáte et consuetúdine doméstica ex mútuis caritátis offíciis, ex sanctitáte morum, ex pietátis exercitatióne proficiscúntur, máxima quæque enitúerit in sacra illa Família, quæ síquidem eárum futúra erat céteris documénto. Ac proptérea benigno Providéntiæ consílio sic illa cónstitit, ut sínguli christiáni, qualicúmque conditióne vel loco, si ad eam ánimum advértant, fácile possint cuiuscúmque virtútis exercéndæ habére causam et invitaméntum.

Reading 4 From the Apostolic Letters of Pope Leo XIII Breve Neminem fugit 14 Junii 1892 When God in his mercy determined to accomplish the work of man's renewal, which same had so many long ages awaited, he appointed and ordained this work on such wise that its very beginning might shew to the world the august spectacle of a Family which was known to be divinely constituted; that therein all men might behold a perfect model, as well of domestic life as of every virtue and pattern of holiness: for such indeed was the Holy Family of Nazareth. There in secret dwelt the Sun of Righteousness, until the time when he should shine out in full splendour in the sight of all nations. There Christ, our God and Saviour, lived with his Virgin Mother, and with that most holy man Joseph, who held to him the place of father. No one can doubt that in this Holy Family was displayed every virtue which can be called forth by an ordinary home life, with its mutual services of charity, its holy intercourse, and its practices of godly piety, since the Holy Family was destined to be a pattern to all others. For that very reason was it established by the merciful designs of Providence, namely, that every Christian, in every walk of life and in every place, might easily, if he would but give heed to it, have before him a motive and a pattern for the good life.