The Catholic Church marked the Solemnity of the Holy Family yesterday with a powerful message on self-giving love, as Archbishop Peter Loy Chong reminded husbands that true leadership in the home means placing their wives’ dignity above their own comfort.
Preaching on the theme “The Heart of the Family is a Gift of Self,” Archbishop Chong said the model for family life is Christ’s sacrificial love.
“A good husband dies to his own ego and selfishness. He puts his wife’s dignity before his own comfort, protects rather than controls, and is the first to say ‘I am sorry,’ the first to forgive, and the first to serve,” he told the congregation.
He said a wife should only submit to “a man who loves her so deeply that she feels safe to give of herself,” describing marriage as a path to salvation and a reflection of Christ’s love on the cross.
Archbishop Chong encouraged husbands to prioritise their spouses, apologise where needed, and nurture spiritual growth — actions he said build stronger homes and communities.
Several couples also renewed their marriage vows during the celebration.
