Our marriage is a sacramental covenant. Although blessed with a deep love for each other, my
wife and I recognize that more is required of us in our marriage and each of is to give the other the
total “gift of self.” As Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “Christian marriage, like the other sacraments,
‘whose purpose is to sanctify people, to build up the body of Christ, and finally, to give worship to
God,’ is in itself a liturgical action glorifying God in Jesus Christ and in the Church.” (#56)
2. We must be open to all life. Our understanding of “life” before we became Catholic was rooted in
ignorance and acceptance of the secular culture. We learned from Familiaris Consortio and our
priests that contraception was evil and placed an artificial barrier between us and God’s plan for our
marriage. “The Church condemns as a grave offense against human dignity and justice all those
activities of governments or other public authorities…in favor of contraception or, still worse, of
sterilization and procured abortion, must be altogether condemned and forcefully rejected.” (#30).
3. We are responsible for evangelizing and educating our family about the Faith. “Thus the little
domestic Church, like the greater Church, needs to be constantly and intensely evangelized: hence
its duty regarding permanent education in the faith…the family, like the Church, ought to be a place
where the Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates…the future of evangelization
depends in great part on the Church of the home.” (#51-52)
4. We must be a family that prays. “Family prayer has its own characteristic qualities. It is prayer
offered in common, husband and wife together, parents and children together…by reason of their
dignity and mission, Christian parents have the specific responsibility of educating their children in
prayer, introducing them to gradual discovery of the mystery of God and to personal dialogue with
Him…”(#59-60)
Introduction: The Church at the Service of the Family
1. The family in the modern world, as much as and perhaps more than any
other institution, has been beset by the many profound and rapid changes that
have affected society and culture. Many families are living this situation in
fidelity to those values that constitute the foundation of the institution of the
family. Others have become uncertain and bewildered over their role or even
doubtful and almost unaware of the ultimate meaning and truth of conjugal
and family life. Finally, there are others who are hindered by various situations
of injustice in the realization of their fundamental rights.
Knowing that marriage and the family constitute one of the most precious of
human values, the Church wishes to speak and offer her help to those who
are already aware of the value of marriage and the family and seek to live it
faithfully, to those who are uncertain and anxious and searching for the truth,
and to those who are unjustly impeded from living freely their family lives.
Supporting the first, illuminating the second and assisting the others, the
Church offers her services to every person who wonders about the destiny of
marriage and the family.(1)
In a particular way the Church addresses the young, who are beginning their
journey towards marriage and family life, for the purpose of presenting them
with new horizons, helping them to discover the beauty and grandeur of the
vocation to love and the service of life…