P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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INTENTION : |
That all may respect the family and recognize it for its unmatched contribution to the advancement of society.
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If the family, as fundamental unit of society, is damaged or weakened, the whole of society is damaged and weakened. Respect for the central role of the family as institution, in its contribution to the whole of human society, is the intention for prayer which the Holy Father commends to us this month.
Today, particularly in western culture, a crisis is observable in the identity of the family. What can we call 'family'? Besides the 'traditional model' there are single-parent families (living with father only or mother only); those which are the fruit of new unions: living with my mother and her second husband, or with brothers/sisters who are children of my mother's husband, and other children of my mother and her new husband….. and so on. I might live with my mother, while some of my brothers and sisters live with my original father. Today there can even be homosexual parents. The low birth rate in so many western countries is another indicator of lack of confidence in life, in society and in the family.
If there is a crisis in the family it is because there is also a crisis in parenting. What is the role of father and mother? What kind of relationships and what kind of education should be given to children? How do we define a family today? For us, it is based upon the relationship between one man and one woman, but today there are those who propose other models.
A family without stability in its affective relationships is not capable of giving an upbringing based on Gospel values, nor can it help society. From families with values come political, social and religious leaders with values. The family is the place where we learn to live unconditional love, image of the love of God. In fact very often the family turns into the place where we meet suffering, and where harm is done to people we love. There is need to practise forgiveness, dialogue based on love, acceptance and unconditional understanding, to bring healing and wholeness. This difficult challenge makes the family an exceptional place of learning and preparation for life.
In the Church there are many initiatives at local level to support families, in parishes, movements and schools: pre-sacramental catechesis, especially before marriage; Marriage Encounter; parenting courses; family outings; suggestions for family prayer, and so on. At the same time it is the task of civil government, whatever its religious views, to support the family as institution through suitable legislation and effective measures. Unfortunately today we see many examples to the contrary, especially in Europe. Laws on abortion, divorce, contraception, homosexual marriages, and others, are an attack on the family, are a form of serious blindness, and will bring harmful consequences for coming generations.
Let us not cease to pray intensively this month, in union with the Holy Father, on this delicate and fundamental question. Let us ask ourselves what we are doing, and what more we could do, to support the family. Let us call on the inspiration of the Holy Family of Nazareth, in which we have a simple, hardworking, united model of the family… where God feels at home.
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