Our Lady of Lourdes Church and School

Continued exploration of “On Love in the Family” by Pope Francis…

As we consider the invitation to deep generosity, commitment, and love, in order to take up the all-too real challenges of making a life with another and of growing in a marriage relationship, we are also encouraged to approach marriage and the challenges that come with it, with patience and reflection. Without this disposition, it can be very difficult to share forgiveness with one’s spouse. And forgiveness, in its being offered and in its being received, is pure grace in the marital relationship. Without the capacity to share forgiveness, couples may find themselves hastily bringing about the ending of their relationship and entering into civil or other relationships, which can bring their own complexities and challenges for the full living of the Christian life. A sense of isolation within the Christian world is not uncommon, and this isolation is only compounded as the weakening of faith and religious practice becomes more pronounced in some parts of the world. This isolation grows while at the same time the difficulties for individuals in their relationships can seem to multiply. The fragility of relationships along with a diminished sense of God’s presence in the life of a person can also be accompanied by a deep sense of powerlessness in the face of social and cultural transitions. Families often feel abandoned due to a lack of interest and attention on the part of institutions - both civil and religious - and hesitancy around bringing children into the world along with the challenges of caring for elder parents leads to an increase in emotional problems for people.

The Pope Francis invites us to reflect on some very real social issues and concerns that underpin “real” family values. A lack of affordable housing can have a debilitating effect on families. “Families have a right to be able to count on an adequate family policy on the part of public authorities in the juridical, economic, social and fiscal domains.”(44) Whenever there is public conversation on questions of housing, employment, violence, abuse, migration, poverty, or any other social issues that touch on the life of the family, we should never be surprised to see the Church engaging in such debate.

Families that experience special needs are also a grace for the Church, and we acknowledge the “invaluable witness of faithfulness to the gift of life” offered by our families. Children with differing abilities give us all “an opportunity to grow in love, mutual aid, and unity…” Care for the elderly, too, is of particular concern for us as we see our elders sometimes becoming vulnerable and dependent. It is important to respect their dignity and their being with our care and concern for them, rather than be tempted by utilitarian policies found in some nations that leads to euthanasia and “assisted suicide”, which in themselves are, by definition, “serious threats to families worldwide”.

More modern efforts to redefine family and to place the needs or desires of an individual above that of the family as a whole are not uncommon. They invite us to reflect deeply on the authentic meaning of family for us, and to work for the renewal of family life. It can never be simply taken for granted.