Pope: in the "eclipse of God" the family is a witness to the Gospel
The new evangelization is inseparable from the Christian family, there are areas, like the education of children and adolescents to love and marriage preparation, in which its leading role is necessary, in collaboration with the priests and under the leadership of bishops.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - " In our time, as in times past, the eclipse of God, the spread of ideologies contrary to the family and the degradation of sexual ethics are intertwined. And just as the eclipse of God and the crisis of the family are linked, so the new evangelization is inseparable from the Christian family" In short, Benedict XVI is convinced the new evangelization, "depends largely on the domestic Church."
This was Pope’s conclusion today, as he addressed participants at the twentieth plenary session of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which celebrated the double XXX anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio and the establishment of the council itself.
Affirming that "the new evangelization depends largely on the domestic Church", the Pope then recalled that he " have repeatedly urged Christians spouses to evangelize both with the witness of life and with involvement in the pastoral activities." Even recently, in Ancona, at the end of the Italian Eucharistic Congress, Benedict XVI wanted to meet with spouses and priests. " In fact, the two sacraments, "at the service of communion" (CCC, n. 1534), Holy Orders and Matrimony, are traced to the sole source of the Eucharist."
"There are some areas - he added - where the prominence of Christian families in collaboration with priests, and under the guidance of Bishops is particularly urgent: the education of children, adolescents and young people to love, understood as self-giving and communion, and the preparation of engaged couples to married life with a journey of faith, and the formation of married couples, especially young couples, the experiences associated with charitable purposes, education and civic engagement, and the pastoral care of families for families, towards life-long commitment, giving due value to time dedicated to work and that of rest. "
Turning, finally, a thought to the preparation of the VII World Meeting of Families which will take place in Milan from 30 May to 3 June 2012, the Pope issued an invitation to the families of the area "to open the doors of their houses to accommodate the pilgrims who come from all over the world. In hospitality we experience joy and enthusiasm: it's nice to make acquaintances and friendships, recounting the experience of family life and the faith experience associated with it. "
This was Pope’s conclusion today, as he addressed participants at the twentieth plenary session of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which celebrated the double XXX anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio and the establishment of the council itself.
Affirming that "the new evangelization depends largely on the domestic Church", the Pope then recalled that he " have repeatedly urged Christians spouses to evangelize both with the witness of life and with involvement in the pastoral activities." Even recently, in Ancona, at the end of the Italian Eucharistic Congress, Benedict XVI wanted to meet with spouses and priests. " In fact, the two sacraments, "at the service of communion" (CCC, n. 1534), Holy Orders and Matrimony, are traced to the sole source of the Eucharist."
"There are some areas - he added - where the prominence of Christian families in collaboration with priests, and under the guidance of Bishops is particularly urgent: the education of children, adolescents and young people to love, understood as self-giving and communion, and the preparation of engaged couples to married life with a journey of faith, and the formation of married couples, especially young couples, the experiences associated with charitable purposes, education and civic engagement, and the pastoral care of families for families, towards life-long commitment, giving due value to time dedicated to work and that of rest. "
Turning, finally, a thought to the preparation of the VII World Meeting of Families which will take place in Milan from 30 May to 3 June 2012, the Pope issued an invitation to the families of the area "to open the doors of their houses to accommodate the pilgrims who come from all over the world. In hospitality we experience joy and enthusiasm: it's nice to make acquaintances and friendships, recounting the experience of family life and the faith experience associated with it. "
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