Pope Francis inaugurated the “Amoris Laetitia Family” year with a message to the participants in a webinar on the theme “Our Daily Love”, in which he asks everyone to support families and accompany them during the journey of life.
By author of Vatican News staff
Five years after the publication of Pope Francis’ post-synodal Apostolic exhortation, Amoris laetita, the Vatican the “Amoris Laetitia Family” Year. At the start of the celebration this year, Pope Francis sent a message to the participants in a webinar on the theme “Our daily love”.
Pope Francis opened his message by greeting participants, and in particular Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the convent for the laity, the family and life; Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, vicar of the diocese of Rome, and archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, chancellor of the John Paul II Theological Institute for the Science of Marriage and the Family – who organized the event.
The pope remembers the publication of the post-synodal Apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia on the beauty and joy of marriage and family love, and invited everyone to live ” a year of re-reading the document and reflect on the theme, to the celebration of the tenth world meeting for families who, if God wills, in Rome will take place on 26 June 2022. ”
World Family Meeting
According to the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, 1994 was declared an International Year of the Family by the United Nations. Pope John Paul II wanted the Church to celebrate this Year of the Family as well, which is why the 1st World Family Meeting (WMF) was held. It took place on 8 and 9 October 1994 in Rome under the auspices of the Papal Council for the Family, which organized all subsequent WMFs.
Since then, a world meeting of families has been held every three years in various places around the world, together with an international pastoral-theological congress. It usually concludes with a feast of families in the presence of the pope and a final celebration of the Eucharist.
A new look at the family
Pope Francis noted that “the main purpose of the document is to communicate … that the Church today needs a new look at the family.” He stressed that it is not enough to repeat the value of doctrine. We should rather become ‘guardians’ of the beauty of the family and ‘with compassion’ take care of its fragility and wounds.
Pope Francis further said that there are two aspects at the core of all family ministry: ‘the openness of the proclamation of the Gospel and the tenderness of guidance’.
He explained that on the one hand, we preach a word to spouses, spouses, and families that helps them understand the authentic meaning of unity and love, the sign and image of Trinitarian love, and the covenant between Christ and the Church. ”
On the other hand, the pope remarked, “this proclamation can and may never be given from above or from without.” He explained that the church is incarnated in history, just like her master. So when she preaches the Gospel of the family, she does so by immersing herself in real life and knowing firsthand about the daily struggles of spouses and parents, their problems, their suffering, all the small and big situations that hinder their journey. and sometimes obstructed. . ”
“Our daily love”
It is in this context that daily love is lived, the pope said, referring to the title of the webinar. He noted that the title is an important choice because it’s about the love generated by the simplicity and quiet work of a couple, through the daily and sometimes tiring devotion offered by spouses, mothers, fathers and children ‘.
He said that if the Gospel is presented as a ‘doctrine from on high’ without going into the ‘flesh’ of daily life, it runs the risk of remaining only a beautiful theory and even as a moral obligation to be experienced.
“We are called to accompany, listen and bless the journey of families,” the pope said. Not only to chart the direction, but also to make the journey with them; to enter the house with discretion and love, to say to the couple: the church is with you; the Lord is near you; we want to help you protect the gift you received.
Finally, the pope insisted: ‘Let us support the family! Let us defend it against all that endangers its beauty. ‘
And he invited everyone to approach ‘this mystery of love with wonder, discretion and tenderness. And let us commit ourselves to protecting his precious and fine bonds: children, parents, grandparents … We need these bonds to live and to live well, to make mankind more brotherly. ‘