Celebrating nearly 350 years of prayer and dedication
One of the devotions that François de Laval held dear was the Holy Family.
On March 14, 1665, Monseigneur de Laval established the foundation of the Brotherhood of the Holy Family. The purpose of the brotherhood was to honour the Holy Family by holding it up as a model and example for our own families. This devotion quickly spread across all of America.
On one of his trips to France in 1684, he brought a request to Pope Innocent XI to authorize the institution of a solemn feast in honour of the Holy Family, to be celebrated every year in his diocese.
In this way François de Laval helped write another page of the history of the Universal Church, as 200 years later Pope Leon XIII added the Feast of the Holy Family to the liturgical calendar. He recalled the importance of this worship in the 17th century and the considerable support for this feast in Canada. The celebration took root in America and flourishly largely through the efforts of François de Laval and Marguerite Bourgeoys. In 1921, Pope Benoit XV made the celebration mandatory throughout the world.
Still today
Still today, at the monthly meeting, the members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Family in the Parish of Notre-Dame de Québec pray for all their spiritual affiliates and all the prayer intentions expressed.
We’re recruiting !
You can become a member of the Brotherhood of the Holy Family no matter where you live.
Every month, pray with the other members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Family for François de Laval to intercede on behalf of the intentions addressed to him and for the affiliate members…
… either at the Brotherhood’s monthly mass (at the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica Cathedral)
… or from away.
We will send you a schedule of the meetings so you can pray in union with us.
The members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Family receive our newsletter for free, by mail or email.
Contact us!
Centre d’animation François-de Laval
20, rue De Buade
Québec (Québec)
G1R 4A1
418 692-0228
(or click here)
We praise You, God,
Father and Creator of life,
The source of all love.
We praise You and Joseph.
In Your love for Mary, his wife,
He accepted the mission You entrusted to his betrothed.
We praise You for Mary.
Through the tenderness she felt for Jesus, her child,
She took part in Your plan for our salvation, which You will bring to fruition through her son.
We praise you for Jesus.
His presence along with his parents, Mary and Joseph, is an expression of the filial attachment he shares with You and the Holy Spirit.
We praise You for this family of Nazareth.
Through the affection that unites them, Joseph,
Mary and Jesus announced to the world
the covenant You wish to enter into with us.
We thank You for all of the families on Earth.
In their quest for happiness,
They seek the spring that sustains them.
May they find it in your bounteous love, which does not forget any of Your children.
To You, through your Son and in the Spirit,
Our praises resound today
And for ever and ever. Amen.
Denis Gagnon, Dominican Order
Holy Family Stain-glass window,
Chapel of the Séminaire de Québec
We must put all our trust and all our strength in our Lord, in his Holy Mother and in the entire Holy Family
François de Laval
