Pope in Mexico: I prefer a wounded family to a society sick from fear of love
At the gathering for families in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Pope Francis rails against the "ideological colonization" that seeks to destroy the family institution labelling it as outdated. The moving testimonies of a dystrophic boy, a divorced couple, of a family married for 50 years, a woman abandoned by her husband who supports single mothers so they will not to abort their children. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, "this dream called family will not be defeated by insecurity and loneliness."
Tuxtla Gutierrez (AsiaNews) - "I prefer a wounded family that makes daily efforts to put love into play, to a society that is sick from isolationism and a habitual fear of love. I prefer a family that makes repeated efforts to begin again, to a society that is narcissistic and obsessed with luxury and comfort. I prefer a family with tired faces from generous giving, to faces with makeup that know nothing of tenderness and compassion".
This was how Pope Francis expressed his belief in the institution family in opposition to a modern society which holds it to be "a model which has done its time, but which has no place in our societies; these, claiming to be modern, increasingly favour a model based on isolation".
The Pope loudly denounced the current "ideological colonization" which is attempting to destroy families, receiving the enthusiastic applause of 100 thousand present at the "Victor Manuel Reyna" arena in Tuxtla.
In addition to Francis’ address, the Archbishop Fabio Castillo Martínez presented four witnesses of different types of family.
One of these exalted elderly parents, married for more than 50 years, who passed on the faith. "We are poor - they said - we have to fight every day with growing prices. We are poor but we are full of hope that comes from faith".
A couple, Humberto and Claudia, explained that they are civilly married, because "we are divorced" They say they cannot "participate in the Eucharist, but we meet the Lord by taking care of the poor, of prisoners, the people in need ".
Then there was Beatriz 52 years, a woman abandoned by her husband, who has always rejected abortion as an easy way to solve the economic problems of her family. She is a nurse and helps women not to abort, letting them find "the help of the Church."
The most striking testimony was that of 14 year old Manuel, who since the age of 5 years has suffered from muscular dystrophy. Helped by his parents, kneeling on the stage, next to his wheelchair, full of vitality and smiles he spoke of his challenge and his "giving courage" to his friends.
The Pope thanked them because "you have allowed us to sit at your 'table', where you share the bread that feeds you and sweat in front of your daily difficulties .... Thanks for allowing us into your families, to your table, into your home. "
In fact, the encounter was enveloped in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, without formalities. In the middle of the testimonies, the people carried their child in a wheel chair up to the stage. The Pope noting the child, went down to the front of the stage, while the security men pulled the child up to meet him. The Pope embraced and blessed him, while people shouted for joy.
Before the end of his speech, one of Beatriz’s children (perhaps a granddaughter), went up to the Pope who took her on his knees.
In his homily, Francis spoke of long the testimony of Manuel: "You started to give courage to the life, give courage to your family, give courage among your friends and give courage to us gathered here. I think this is what the Holy Spirit always wants to do among us: to give courage, give us reason to continue betting, dreaming and building a life that knows how to be a home, a family. And this is what God the Father has always imagined and for which since ancient times has fought. When all seemed lost that night in the Garden of Eden, God the Father has given courage to the young couple and showed that all was not lost. When the people of Israel felt that there was no sense in crossing the desert, God the Father urged them on and gave them courage with manna. When the fullness of time, God the Father has given courage to humanity forever giving us his Son. Similarly, all of us who are here have experienced that in many times and in different forms, God the Father gave courage to our lives".
The resumption of the family every day is possible because Jesus " heal our hearts and invite us again and again, seventy times seven, to begin anew. He can make all things new”.
Jesus " who risked everything to the end so as to once again make possible the Kingdom of God. A Kingdom that invites us to share in a new mindset, that puts into motion a dynamic power capable of opening the heavens, capable of opening our hearts, our minds, our hands and capable of challenging us with new possibilities."
Francis then referred to "many adolescents who are disillusioned and on a wrong path, many who are deflated, tired and without aspirations"; he cited the testimony of Beatriz, who said " the struggle has always been difficult because of uncertainty and loneliness".
" Uncertainty, - he said - insufficiency, and often not having the bare essentials, can lead to despair, can make us deeply anxious because we cannot see a way forward, especially when we have children in our care. Uncertainty is not only a threat to our stomach (which is already serious), but it can also threaten our soul, demoralizing us and taking away our energy so that we seek apparent solutions that in the end solve nothing. There is a kind of uncertainty which can be very dangerous, which can creep in surreptitiously; it is the uncertainty born of solitude and isolation. And isolation is always a bad counsellor".
The Pope added that we need " legislation which protects and guarantees the bare necessities of life so that every home and every person can develop through education and dignified employment." But also a "personal commitment" as the testimony of Humberto and Claudia revealed when they said they were trying to pass on the love of God that they had experienced in service and in caring for others. "
But most of all, the testimony of the family, takes strength from “that little bit extra", the "advantage" that the Mexicans have: " ou have a Mother, la Guadalupana. She wanted to visit this land and this gives us the certainty of her intercession so that our dream, which we call the family, may not be lost through uncertainty or solitude. She is always ready to defend our families, our future; she is always ready to put her heart into it by giving us her Son". He concluded asking all the congregation to recite a Hail Mary together.
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12/02/2016 20:22
