God always with you in joys and difficulties of married life
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As Pope Francis announced at the Angelus on the Feast
of the Holy Family, he published today an open letter to married couples as
part of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year. He encourages families to turn to
Jesus who is always near in all the ups and downs of daily family life.
By Devin Watkins
The Church is celebrating the Amoris Laetitia Family Year in the runup to the World Meeting of Families
set for 26 June 2022.
As part of that event, and in the midst of the
Christmas Season, Pope Francis released a letter for married couples across the globe on Sunday.
The Pope first expressed his desire that families feel
his “affection and closeness at this very special time,” which has been marked
by the Covid-19 pandemic and recurring lockdowns.
“The present situation has made me want to accompany
with humility, affection and openness each individual, married couple and
family in all those situations in which you find yourselves.”
God’s unconditional
love for couples
Pope Francis focused his letter to couples on the
constant presence of Jesus in the day-to-day situations of family life.
He said all couples have set out on a journey—like
Abraham—as they leave their parents’ home and build a new life together in
matrimony.
“Our relationship with God shapes us, accompanies us
and sends us forth as individuals and, ultimately, helps us to “set out from
our land”, albeit in many cases with a certain trepidation and even fear in the
face of the unknown.”
Yet, he added, our Christian faith reminds us that we
are not alone in the challenges of married life, since Jesus is present as time
passes, children are born and grow up, and work and illness ebb and flow.
Married couples “set out towards the land that God
promises: to be two in Christ, two in one,” said the Pope. “Your
lives become a single life; you become a ‘we’ in loving communion with Jesus,
alive and present at every moment of your existence.”
“God is always at your side; He loves you
unconditionally. You are not alone!”
Children
thirsting for a sign of God’s love
The Holy Father then turned his thoughts to couples
with children. He urged parents to live Christ’s love in every interaction,
since children are always paying attention and soaking up everything.
“Children are always a gift; they change the history
of every family. They are thirsty for love, gratitude, esteem and trust. Being
parents calls you to pass on to your children the joy of realizing that they
are God’s children.”
The Pope admitted that raising children is no easy
task, but that children also “raise” their parents, helping them grow in
authority that gives children a sense of security and confidence.
Jesus always in
our storm-rocked boat
Pope Francis also urged couples to be active members
in their parishes, assisting the Church in her mission of accompanying other
families less aware of God’s presence.
“You have the mission of transforming society by your
presence in the workplace and ensuring that the needs of families are taken
into due account,” he added.
He called marriage a vocation and likened it to a boat
on a sometimes-story sea. Jesus, said the Pope, is always either in the boat to
calm the sea or walking nearby and awaiting our invitation to climb aboard.
“It is important that, together, you keep your eyes
fixed on Jesus. Only in this way, will you find peace, overcome conflicts and
discover solutions to many of your problems. Those problems, of course, will
not disappear, but you will be able to see them from a different perspective.”
Marriage ‘refuge
in pandemic storms’
The Pope went on to reflect on the difficulties and
opportunities facing families during the pandemic.
He said recurring lockdowns have forced many families
to work, study, recreate, and rest in the same house, a situation he said may
be difficult at times.
“The time you spend together, far from being a
penance, will be become a refuge amid the storms,” he said. “May every family
be a place of acceptance and understanding.”
Pope Francis also recalled his invitation to say
“please, thanks, sorry”, while avoiding going to bed without making peace.
Couples, added the Pope, can also kneel together
before the Eucharist and say a small prayer each evening.
“Remember also that forgiveness heals every wound.
Mutual forgiveness is the fruit of an interior resolve that comes to maturity
in prayer, in our relationship with God.”
The Holy Father noted that some couples have found the
pandemic unbearable and sought separation, a situation he lamented as causing
great pain to children. But he assured separated couples of his “closeness and
affection”.
Creative courage
and a smile
Finally, Pope Francis encouraged couples preparing for
marriage to have “creative courage” as they make the more-difficult-than-ever
journey toward married life.
And he sent a word of greeting to grandparents, many
of whom have felt more alone during lockdowns, and called them “humanity’s
living memory.”
The Pope wrapped up his letter to married couples with
an encouragement to always live their vocation with a smile and enthusiasm,
never letting their faces “grow sad or gloomy”.
“May Saint Joseph inspire in all families a creative
courage, so essential for these times of epochal change. May Our Lady help you
to foster in your married lives the culture of encounter that we so urgently
need in order to face today’s problems and troubles.”
LETTER
OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
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