POPE FRANCIS ON THE MISSION OF THE FAMILY:
WELCOME JESUS AND MAKE ROOM FOR HIM IN YOUR PERSONAL, CONJUGAL AND FAMILY LIFE!
Dear brethren in Christ, parents and children: IS GOD THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE, OF YOUR MARRIAGE, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOME?
A family centered in Christ will always be a strong one where love, forgiveness, self-giving and service would be possible. It doesn’t mean that the usual ordinary misunderstandings and errors would be inexistent. Rather, the fact that each of the family members strive to have Jesus in the center of their life, would imbue their family life with God’s love and mercy. If each one of us struggle to put Jesus as the center of our life and of our family, the society and the world would definitely be a better place to live in.
Hence is worthwhile to consider in one’s personal prayer the following words which Pope Francis said in his 1st discourse on the Catechesis on the Family:
“EACH CHRISTIAN FAMILY CAN FIRST OF ALL — as Mary and Joseph did — WELCOME JESUS, LISTEN TO HIM, SPEAK WITH HIM, GUARD HIM, PROTECT HIM, GROW WITH HIM; and in this way improve the world. Let us make room in our heart and in our day for the Lord…
He comes to save the world. And THIS IS THE GREAT MISSION OF THE FAMILY: TO MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS WHO IS COMING, TO WELCOME JESUS IN THE FAMILY, IN EACH MEMBER: children, husband, wife, grandparents…. JESUS IS THERE. WELCOME HIM THERE, IN ORDER THAT HE GROW SPIRITUALLY IN THE FAMILY.” Pope Francis, General Audience, December 17, 2015.
God bless you and your family!
Fr. Rolly A, priest of Opus Dei.
POPE FRANCIS’ QUOTE SOURCE: https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20141217_udienza-generale.html
ORIGINAL PHOTO SOURCE: I wasn’t able to find the name of the painter but the photo was downloaded from http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-Icon.jpg