Religious Blessings in 2019 to You and Your Family
Amoris Laetitia reflects the results of contempo synods on the family every bit well every bit other writings of Pope Francis and his predecessors. Information technology speaks of the gifts and joys of families just, besides, acknowledges the gimmicky challenges which they face.
The pope emphasizes the importance of union and family unit life, writing, "The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and the Church." The family, thus, is a source of strength for the Church, simply every bit the Church is a source of forcefulness for families.
To celebrate, promote, protect and strengthen marriage and families in our earth, the Diocese of Portland has launched the Joy of the Family unit initiative. A specific theme featured in Amoris Laetitia will be highlighted each calendar month and will include opening and closing prayers, a reading, a passage from Amoris Laetitia, a "contemplate and share" section, intercessions, weekly suggestions for practical activities, and a reflection from an individual or individuals who possess a special personal connection to the monthly theme. You will find this month's reflection beneath.
It is hoped developing these themes will help the true-blue understand the teachings in Amoris Laetitia and inspire u.s.a. all to integrate these teachings in our daily lives.
Feb 2019 - THE JOY OF ENDURING Allegiance
OPENING PRAYER
We anoint your name, O Lord,
for sending your own incarnate Son,
to become function of a family unit,
and then that, every bit he lived its life,
he would feel its worries and its joys.
Nosotros inquire you, Lord,
to protect and lookout man over this family unit,
so that in the strength of your grace
its members may enjoy prosperity,
possess the priceless gift of your peace,
and, as the Church alive in the dwelling house,
bear witness in this world
to your glory and faithfulness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Adjusted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, USCCB
READINGS
Mark 10:vi-9
Jesus said: 'At the offset of creation God fabricated them male and female; for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and the ii shall become as ane. They are no longer two but one mankind. Therefore, let no man split what God has joined.'
AMORIS LAETITIA
"The marriage bond finds new forms of expression and constantly seeks new ways to grow in strength." N. 164
Afterwards the love that unites us to God, conjugal love is the "greatest form of friendship." It is a union possessing all the traits of a good friendship: concern for the good of the other, reciprocity, intimacy, warmth, stability and the resemblance born of a shared life. Spousal relationship joins to all this an indissoluble exclusivity expressed in the stable commitment to share and shape together the whole of life. Let us exist honest and acknowledge the signs that this is the instance. Lovers do non run into their human relationship as merely temporary. Those who marry do non expect their excitement to fade. Those who witness the commemoration of a loving matrimony, however fragile, trust that it will pass the test of time. Children not simply desire their parents to love i another, simply also to be faithful and remain together. These and like signs evidence that it is in the very nature of conjugal love to be definitive. The lasting union expressed past the wedlock vows is more than a formality or a traditional formula; it is rooted in the natural inclinations of the human person. For believers, information technology is also a covenant before God that calls for fidelity (north. 123).
CONTEMPLATE AND SHARE
•Amoris Laetitia confirms that quality time is a honey language. How practise nosotros spend our time? When do we take time to give each family member some solid quality time, putting away distractions such equally the cell phone and enjoying the person'due south presence or engaging in meaningful, perhaps even light-headed, conversation? Thank God for the time spent together.
• What commitments does our family have? What are some of the promises nosotros have made to i some other? How well do we keep them? When do we find information technology's hard to live up to our commitments or promises? Talk over with as a family and resolve to abound stronger, staying faithful to God and i some other.
• What does our family need to live out the religion in the coming months and in years to come up? How might we fulfill needs in our daily routines? Pray for these needed graces.
• How do we bear witness tenderness to one another equally a family? How can we extend that tenderness and gift of self to neighbors or even people nosotros practise non know? Consider means to practice these things for ane another. For case, write every family member's name on a piece of paper. Place all the papers in a container. Take each person choose a slip of paper, making sure that the person does non have his or her own name. Throughout the calendar week, show extra tenderness or give the gift of cocky to the person chosen. At the end of the week, talk with one another well-nigh how it felt treating one another this style, both as a giver and as a receiver.
INTERCESSIONS
• 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 2/3 - That Christians may express the joy of family unit life by "begetting, believing, hoping and indelible all things" in Christ, we pray to the Lord:
• Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February ix/10 - That families will imitate the aforementioned fervor and allegiance of the first disciples by supporting vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life, we pray to the Lord:
• Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 16/17 - That the Church volition remain faithful to her announcement of the saving bulletin of Christ's death and resurrection, we pray to the Lord:
• Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22 - That the pope may be strengthened in his ministry as the visible sign of the unity of the Church, we pray to the Lord:
• Seventh Dominicus in Ordinary Time, February 23/24 - That the joy of marriage and family life will manifest itself through prayer, love, mercy and forgiveness, we pray to the Lord:
CLOSING PRAYER
Prayer for Vocations (USCCB)
Hail Mary, full of grace;
all generations call you blest.
Hail Mother of God; when asked by the affections
to bear the Son of the Most High,
filled with faith, you responded:
"Let it be washed unto me."
Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana,
yous prompted your Son to perform his first sign.
Exist with usa as we discern our life's work
and guide us in the mode nosotros are called to follow
in the footsteps of your Son.
Holy Mother of the Savior, at the pes of the cross,
you mourned the death of your only Son.
Anoint and encompass the loving parents of all priests,
deacons, brothers, and sisters.
Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd,
plough your motherly care to this nation.
Intercede for u.s. to the Lord of the harvest
to send more than laborers to the harvest
in this land dedicated to your honor.
Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Ill,
inspire vocations in our time.
Allow the word of your Son be made flesh anew
in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim
the practiced news of everlasting life.
Amen.
JOY IN Activity
Weekly suggestions for the faithful to consider
Feb iii:Commit to making your marriage covenant a priority in your life. Set aside time in your daily schedule to nourish your relationship with your spouse and with God.
February 10: Give the gift of words this Valentine'south Day by sharing with your spouse why yous beloved him/her.
February 17: Pray for God'south graces upon those who are discerning vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life. Don't be afraid to encourage someone whom you lot believe God may be calling to a religious vocation.
February 24: Consider participating in a Worldwide Marriage Meet or another marriage enrichment programme. Cheque with your parish about opportunities in your area or visit https://portlanddiocese.org/marriage/enriching-marriage for some ideas.
REFLECTION
In Amoris Laetitia, our Holy Father writes, "Honey needs time and space; everything else is secondary. Fourth dimension is needed to talk things over, to embrace leisurely, to share plans, to listen to one some other and gaze in each other's center, to capeesh 1 another and to build a stronger relationship. Sometimes, the frenetic pace of our lodge and the pressures of the workplace create problems. At other times, the problem is the lack of quality time together, sharing the aforementioned room without i even noticing the other." due north. 224.
Every bit a diocese, nosotros committed time and space over the last yr and half to reflecting on the Joy of the Family. Each calendar month, Catholics from across Maine shared what they have learned about accepting and practicing the enduring fidelity God offers through relationship with him and each other.
Our final Joy of the Family reflection highlights insights nigh faithfulness, which thrives through recognizing grace, renewing commitments, and living and handing on faith. As you read, recall how you have known joy in your ain life and how you might spread this joy to others.
Recognizing Grace
Faithfulness is possible when we recognize gifts in each other and the grace God gives through our successes and failures.
Mike and Diane Tyne recognize that the gift and grace of spousal relationship "is a self-sacrificing vocation that calls us to dice to ourselves and often put our wants bated for the sake of others," ("The Joy of Marriage," May 2017). Don & Ann Marie Clavette note the grace in their prayer every bit a couple: "Our shared prayer life has become the gum that has held us together throughout the joys and the challenges of married life and family life." ("The Joy of Being a Holy Family unit," Dec 2017). Suzanne Lafreniere reminds u.s. that "If we don't take the time to really focus on residuum and relaxation in the company of family, life tin can seem like a hamster bike we cannot bound off ... Consider how you can have fourth dimension with your family, both daily and long-term. If it is anything similar my experience, it will bring you both laughter and tears and is a concrete way to live out the grace of tenderness towards 1 some other." ("The Joy of Taking Time," January 2018).
The gift of family and sacramental graces of marriage, our own or those of the people effectually united states, help united states of america requite ourselves in dear again and again.
Renewing Commitments
Faithfulness involves just saying "yeah" to 1 another over and over in skilful times and bad.
"Tenderness is very rarely complicated," write Brian & Michele Bernier. "It is commonly a simple activity or style of acknowledging ane some other, born out of love and thoughtfulness toward the other" ("The Joy of Loving Tenderly," February 2018). Brian Griffin shares, "Throughout our married life, I am standing to look for small-scale ways during the day to be a gift of self. Elementary things like shoveling a path to the garage, so my married woman doesn't have to wade through deep snow to become to the car, or doing the dishes, even when she tells me she'll take intendance of it, are simple sacrifices which brand me a meliorate person and improve our human relationship by living out what we are called to do by God" ("The Joy of Passionate Dearest," Apr 2018). Monsignor Andrew Dubois points out that connecting with parents and siblings can be a source for both joy and comfort throughout one's life: "Similar many families, we love meeting for no detail reason, as well as for special occasions. … But fifty-fifty during the more difficult times that life gives united states of america all, nosotros want to be in each other's company and to seek each other's support, solace, and strength" (The Joy of Family unit, Apr 2017).
Witnessing enduring commitments like those between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and priests or religious and the Church building prove the states that nosotros too can be true-blue.
Living and Handing on Organized religion
Faithfulness bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we live in the joy of God's family unit and mitt on faith in Jesus Christ.
Begetter Michael Seavey reminds united states of america that "For the Catholic Church building, advocating for working people and their families is a cadre chemical element of our mission" ("The Joy of Work," September 2018). Michael Smith goes on to note, "Merciful service calls us to learn, sympathize, and journey with people to where they want to get, rather than coming in with our predetermined ideas of what is best for them and how to get at that place. Through this procedure, we empower those nosotros are working with and better understand the nuances of their needs, which ultimately transforms us and our understanding of them" ("The Joy of Merciful Service," October 2018).
Deacon Luis & Julie Sanclemente remind u.s. that families can exist signs and sources of hope: "As parents, we hope to equip our children with the spiritual 'weapons' they'll need to make prayer a priority and, ultimately, to increase the take a chance that we'll get to run into them in heaven" ("The Joy of Prayer in the Family," November 2018). "Christian families in whatever part of the world can exist joyful, despite many challenges, if they follow the footsteps of the family of Nazareth," Father Arokiasamy Santhiyagu, HGN, adds. "The family unit of Nazareth is raised to the realm of the Holy Family unit and stands as the role model for all families in the world because St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and our Lord Jesus simply did the volition of God throughout their lives" ("The Joy of the Family of Families," January 2019).
Indelible fidelity is a fruit of accepting our call to live in love and hand on faith as individuals and as members of the family unit of families - the Church - in the hope of our ultimate stop in everlasting joy with Jesus Christ in sky
The Last Words
As we conclude this meditation on Amoris Laetitia, let us gloat that, in the words of Bishop Robert Deeley, "family, particularly the extended 1, is a practiced place to acquire that life is richer when nosotros learn to live with each other and intendance for each other" ("The Joy of Extended Family," December 2018). Please render to the Joy of Family reflections whenever you lot need a reminder that accurate faith and enduring fidelity are not ends in themselves, that these gifts must exist shared and so God's graces inherent in them tin can bless united states and multiply for the good of the world.
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER SUPPORT AND REFLECTION
Cosmic Household Blessings and Prayers, USCCB
Pope Francis Wisdom on Beloved Applied Advice for Families, USCCB
www.foryourmarriage.org
www.portumatrimonio.org
www.marriageuniqueforareason.org
Source: https://portlanddiocese.org/joy-of-family
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