Marriage And Family: A Major Theme For Pope Benedict XVI
David Gibson
In an article reflecting on the words of Pope Benedict XVI regarding Marriage and Family, David Gibson notes that “…time after time since becoming pope in April 2005 Pope Benedict turned attention to the sacrament of marriage and family life. I came to consider his manner of esteeming marriage and the family as themes of his papacy. He hoped the world would learn through couples – see in them – that genuine marital commitment remains possible in the 21st century. Here are a selection of his words of wisdom.
Falling in Love
“Falling in love is a wonderful thing. … I often think of the wedding feast of Cana. The first wine is very fine: This is falling in love. But it does not last until the end: A second wine has to come later, it has to ferment and grow, to mature. The definitive love that can truly become this ‘second wine is more wonderful still; it is better than the first wine. And this is what we must seek.” (2012, World Meeting of Families, Milan)
Dignity of Marriage
“Discover the greatness and beauty of marriage. The relationship between the man and the woman reflects divine love in a quite special way; therefore the conjugal bond acquires an immense dignity.” (March 2010, International Youth Forum in Rocca di Papa).
“Matrimony is a Gospel in itself, a good news for the world of today, especially the de-Christianized world.” (October 2012, World Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.)
“Called to live a Christlike love each day, the Christian family is a privileged expression of the church’s presence and mission in the world.” (2012 Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in the Middle East.)
“Your vocation is not easy to live, especially today, but the vocation to love is a wonderful thing, it is the only force that can truly transform the cosmos, the world.” (June 2012 World Meeting of Families, Milan.)
“Conjugal love is not a fleeting event, but the patient project of a lifetime,” (2012, Apostolic Exhortation on the Middle East)
Families: Schools of Virtue
In a May 2009 homily in Nazareth, the Holy Family’s hometown, Pope Benedict suggested that children need the benefits of a “human ecology,” need to be raised in “a milieu” where they learn…
“To love and to cherish others…To be honest and respectful to all…To practice the virtues of mercy and forgiveness.”
“It is in the family that peacemakers, tomorrow’s promoters of a culture of life and love, are born and nurtured” (World Day of Peace message Jan. 1, 2013).
Read the full article: here
