"Courage to get married" - Pope calls for "new catechumenate'

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Great News!!!

Speaking to the Roman Rota, Francis Calls for Appropriate Preparation of Couples Before and After Marriage. Then He Says: “Great Courage Is Necessary to Get Married in the Time in Which We Live”

The Pope proposes an antidote to the problem of the “multiplication of null and inconsistent marriage celebrations”: “A new catechumenate in preparation for marriage,” that is to say, “an appropriate path of preparation geared to rediscover marriage and the family in keeping with God’s design,” which is “part of the sacramental process” as for Baptism.

The Pontiff expressed this indication during an audience this morning to Prelate auditors, officials, lawyers and collaborators of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, received on the occasion of the solemn opening of the Judiciary Year. His reflection focused on today’s context that, “lacking in religious values and faith, cannot but condition marriage as well. “

The Pope is concerned about that “widespread mentality” that “tends to obscure access to eternal truths” and “often involves, in a vast and capillary way, the attitude and behavior of Christians themselves, whose faith is weakened and loses the originality of interpretative and operative criteria for personal, family and social existence.”

“Great courage is needed to get married in the time in which we live,” Pope Bergoglio noted, as he has on other occasions. “All those who have the strength and joy to take this important step must feel alongside them the affection and concrete closeness of the Church.” Also because “the experiences of faith of those requesting a Christian marriage are very different”: some “take part actively in the life of the parish”; others “approach it for the first time”; some “even have an intense life of prayer.” Then there are those who, instead, are guided by a more generic religious sentiment” or persons who are “far from faith or lacking in faith.”…

It was great to read Pope Francis’ quoting both Pope JPII’s “Familiaris Consortio” and also Pope Benedict:

“Love is in need of truth,” concluded Francis finally, recalling Benedict XVI’s words in his last address to the Roman Rota. “It is all the more necessary to deepen the relation between love and truth…"

It is so important to see the Holy Spirit at work in the Church – working beautiful continuity in her teaching. Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis, for all our clergy, religious, and laity in the Church that we may all grow in holiness – that the Church may shine more and more brightly in the darkness.

See HERE for full article in Zenit.

 

[edwest2]

Amen.

God bless,
Ed

 

[Bill_Martin]

This is desperately needed. I really hope this happens.

 

[MariaChristi]

This is desperately needed. I really hope this happens.

Dear Bill and Ed,

Thank you both for your replies. How I pray this will happen – it is long overdue – and more needed than ever. Let us continue to pray for the Pope and all clergy, religious and laity, that we may work together to help young couples prepare for Marriage Having received the Sacrament of Matrimony to continue to build strong marriages and families with all the graces God gives.