“The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World

“Life today can endanger the family, so concrete measures are needed to help it to grow.”

Aug 17, 2018

World Meeting of Families: August 22-26, 2018

The Family: The Treasure of Humanity

“Life today can endanger the family, so concrete measures are needed to help it to grow.”

This is the heart of Pope Francis’ message in the video with the prayer intention for the month of August. The Pope speaks of the family as a treasure that must be protected against today’s perils: “When speaking about families, the image of a treasure often comes to my mind, endangered today by the pace of life, stress, the pressure of work and even the lack of attention on the part of the institutions.”

“We need to promote concrete measures,” says the Pope, “and develop the role of families in society with an adequate family policy.” Francis concludes with the wish for “great economic and political choices to protect families as a treasure of humanity.”

The Family: Hope for the Church and for the World
“The family is a factory of hope, the most beautiful thing God has done,” as Pope Francis said in Philadelphia, “making it the sign of the beauty and joy of love (Amoris Laetitia) is what the Church wants to announce to the world through the family: the real possibility for every man to see himself manifest this love in order to believe and grow in the certainty that someone as loved him and continues to love him every day of his life?” Cardinal Farrell indicates the specificity of the Christian faith regarding the reality of marriage and family:

“The family is not a Catholic institution but an anthropological dimension that belongs to all societies and all religions. What the Christian faith adds to the reality of the family is the awareness of its specific mission in the world, thanks to the presence of Christ in the nuptial sacrament. From the family comes the assets capable of generating virtuous relationships in society, starting with stability and in the world of work. If ‘family capital’ is at the basis of social virtues, then the family is the first factor in humanising people and life in society.”

The Family is Only Between a Man and a Woman
“The human family as an image of God, man and woman, is only one. It is only one.”

Pope Francis said this to a delegation from the Forum of Family Associations received in audience.

“Today — it hurts to say this — there’s talk about ‘diversified’ families, different types of families. Yes, it is true,” the Pope said “that the word ‘family’ is an analogy since we talk of the ‘family’ of stars, ‘families’ of trees, ‘families’ of the animals… it is an analogical word. However, the human family as an image of God, man and woman, is one.”

Speaking about children, “the greatest gift,” Francis declared that “they are to be welcomed as they come, as God sends them, as God permits — even if sometimes they are sick. I have heard that it is fashionable — or at least usual — to do some tests in the early months of pregnancy, to check if the child might be unhealthy or come with some problems... If that is the case, the first proposal is: ‘Shall we do away with it?’

The murder of children. And, to assure oneself a peaceful life, an innocent person is eliminated... In the last century, the whole world was scandalised by what the Nazis did for the sake of racial purity. Today, we do the same thing, but with white gloves.”

Finally, the Pope referred to Amoris Laetitia: “Some have reduced this to a sterile casuistry of ‘yes, it can be done; no it can’t’. They haven’t understood anything!” His speech then focused on marriage preparation, recalling what a woman told him in Buenos Aires. “To become a priest, a man studies for eight years; he prepares himself for eight years. And, then, if after a few years it doesn’t work, he can write a nice letter to Rome and, in Rome, they give him permission, and he can get married. On the contrary, they give us a Sacrament for life and we should be satisfied with three or four preparatory conferences. It’s unfair.” Francis, therefore, stressed that, today, there is a need for “a catechumenate for marriage, just as there is a catechumenate for baptism.”

History of the World Meetings of Families
The year 1994 was declared an “International Year of the Family” by the United Nations.Pope John Paul II wanted the Church to also celebrate this Year of the Family, and so the 1st World Meeting of Families was held. It took place in Rome on October 8 and 9, 1994 under the guidance of the Pontifical Council for the Family who went on to organise all subsequent WMFs.

Since then, every three years, in different places around the world, a World Meeting of Families has been held, together with an International Pastoral-Theological Congress. It concludes with a Festival of Families in the presence of the Pope and a great final Eucharistic Celebration.

1. St John Paul II - 1st World Meeting: 1994 (8-9 October) Rome(Italy). In the context of the Year of the Family “The Family, the Heart of the Civilisation of Love.”

2. St John Paul II - 2nd World Meeting: 1997 (October 4-5) Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). “The Family: Gift and Commitment, the hope of humanity.”


3. St John Paul II - 3rd World Meeting: 2000 (October 14-15) Rome (Italy). In the context of the Great Jubilee of 2000, “Children: Springtime of the Family and of the Church.”

4. St John Paul II - 4th World Meeting: 2003 (January 25-26) Manila (Philippines). “The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium.” *** St John Paul II (via TV link)

5. Benedict XVI - 5th World Meeting: 2006 (July 8-9) Valencia (Spain). “Handing on the Faith in the Family.”

6. Benedict XVI - 6th World Meeting: 2009 (17-18 January) Mexico City (Mexico). “The Family: Teacher of Human and Christian Values” *** Benedict XVI (via TV link)

7. Benedict XVI - 7th World Meeting: 2012 (June 2-3) Milan (Italy) “Family, Work & Celebration.”

8. Pope Francis - 8th World Meeting: 2015 (September 26-27) Philadelphia (USA) “Love is our mission: The family fully alive.”

9. The 9th World Meeting is scheduled to be held in Dublin (Ireland), from August 22 to 26, 2018, on the theme chosen by the Pope “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World,” framed in the context of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia and coordinated by the new Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, presided by Cardinal K. Farrell.

The Transmission of Human Life
O n July 25, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Paul VI’s Encyclical, Humanae Vitae. This document met with strong opposition, yet it was also recognised as “prophetic” for it looked to the future and, above all, because it recalled that “the transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator.”

In human conception, parents are the collaborators of God the Creator who ignites the spark of life and calls a new human person into existence. Conception is, therefore, a sacred moment, since it involves the creative action of God himself. The collaboration of the spouses is a task and a great wonder, because a man and a woman, united by mutual and total love, set the conditions for fulfilling God’s creative action.

The doctrine contained in the Encyclical, its anthropological vision, which is so profoundly biblical and, at the same time, natural, is thus inscribed in the Creation itself, in the conjugal relationship of a man and a woman, essentially God’s creative will and, therefore, cannot change in time or be relegated to history. The unity between the unitive and the procreative aspects helps the man and the woman to discover their fertility as a couple. Love is built and renewed every day.

The Challenge of Educating for Freedom
This is the title of the reflection of the Undersecretary of the Dicastery, Gabriella Gambino, on one of the hot topics to be addressed at the upcoming World Meeting in Dublin: Educating children in accordance with God’s project. The intervention draws on the essay La testimonianza della famiglia cristiana in una società secolarizzata e pluralista (The Testimony of the Christian Family in a Secularised and Pluralist Society), published in S. Kampowski (ed.), Islam europeo e famiglia occidentale: quale impatto e quali sinergie? (Cantagalli, 2018), pp. 91-110. Two key points regarding the Christian family are highlighted: the filial identity of every person is formed in the family and the bond between faith and moral life within the family. These are the factors that give the family founded on the sacrament of marriage “the ability to become an authentic witness in the secularised world.” The words pronounced in 2015 by Pope Francis, in a Catechesis on the family, are a warning: “If we do not find a surge of respect for this covenant, capable of protecting new generations from distrust and indifference, children will come into the world ever more uprooted from the mother’s womb. The social devaluation for the stable and generative alliance between man and woman is certainly a loss for everyone. We must return marriage and the family to the place of honour!”

Letter from Pope Francis prior to the IX World Meeting of Families

To the Venerable Brother
Cardinal KEVIN FARRELL
Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life

At the end of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, held in Philadelphia in September 2015, I announced that the subsequent meeting with Catholic families of the world would take place in Dublin. I now wish to initiate preparations, and am pleased to confirm that it will be held from 21 to 26 August 2018, on the theme The Gospel of the Family: joy for the world. Indeed, it is my wish for families to have a way of deepening their reflection and their sharing of the content of the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia.

One might ask: does the Gospel continue to be a joy for the world? And also: does the family continue to be good news for today’s world?

I am sure the answer is yes!

And this “yes” is firmly based on God’s plan. The love of God is His “yes” to all creation and at the heart of this latter is man. It is God’s “yes” to the union between man and woman, in openness and service to life in all its phases; it is God’s “yes” and His commitment to a humanity that is often wounded, mistreated and dominated by a lack of love. The family, therefore, is the “yes” of God as Love. Only starting from love can the family manifest, spread and regenerate God’s love in the world. Without love, we cannot live as children of God, as couples, parents and brothers.

I wish to underline how important it is for families to ask themselves, often, if they live based on love, for love and in love. In practice, this means giving oneself, forgiving, not losing patience, anticipating the other, respecting. How much better family life would be if every day we lived according to the words, “please,” “thank you” and “I’m sorry.” Every day we have the experience of fragility and weakness, and therefore we all, families and pastors, are in need of renewed humility that forms the desire to form ourselves, to educate and be educated, to help and be helped, to accompany, discern and integrate all men of good will. I dream of an outbound Church, not a self-referential one, a Church that does not pass by far from man’s wounds, a merciful Church that proclaims the heart of the revelation of God as Love, which is Mercy. It is this very mercy that makes us new in love; and we know how much Christian families are a place of mercy, and witnesses of mercy, and even more so after the extraordinary Jubilee. The Dublin meeting will be able to offer concrete signs of this.

I therefore invite all the Church to keep these indications in mind in the pastoral preparation for the next World Meeting.

You, dear Brother, along with your collaborators, have the task of translating, in a special way, the teaching of Amoris Laetitia, with which the Church wishes families always to be in step, in that inner pilgrimage that is the manifestation of authentic life.

My thoughts go in a special way to the archdiocese of Dublin and to all the dear Irish nation for the generous welcome and commitment involved in hosting such an important event.

May the Lord recompense you as of now, granting you abundant heavenly favours. May the Holy Family of Nazareth guide, accompany and bless your service, and all the families involved in the preparation of the great World Meeting in Dublin.

Francis
From the Vatican, 25 March 2017

Preparations towards the World Meeting of Families
The World Meeting of Families was established by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1994 with the aim of celebrating the Church’s role in building the family. Held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church.

The World Meeting of Families is convened by the Holy Father and promoted by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. The Prefect of this new Dicastery is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, previously Bishop of Dallas, Texas in the US.

Dublin, the host diocese
The World Meeting of Families is always organised by a host diocese chosen by the Pope. Pope Francis chose the Archdiocese of Dublin to be the host diocese for the next World Meeting of Families, guided by the theme The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World.

To fulfil this task, the Archdiocese of Dublin has appointed a team to work with the families, young people, women and men, clergy, religious and others from all over Ireland who will be involved in the planning of the event. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is the President and host, Father Timothy Bartlett has been appointed as Secretary General and Anne Griffin as General Manager.

The Main Events

--Aug 21: A National Opening of WMOF2018, which will take place simultaneously in each of the 26 dioceses in Ireland.

-- Aug 22 - 24: A three-day Congress. Each day will reflect on the theme The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World chosen by the Holy Father and will include an enriching programme for adults with keynote speakers, workshops, talks, testimonies and discussions; an engaging and exciting programme for young people as well as fun activities for children. The Congress will also include daily celebration of the Eucharist, prayerful activities, exhibitions, cultural events and musical performances.

-- Aug 25: A Festival of Families, comprising a reflective concert style event within a prayerful and joyful atmosphere, in which personal stories of faith will be shared by families from all continents.

-- Aug 26: WMOF2018 will close with a Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, that will gather thousands of people from Ireland and all over the world.

WMOF2018 and young people

Each day, running concurrently with the adult programme, young people aged 13 and upwards will be able to experience an exciting and dedicated programme, where they will share their faith with many other young people from around the world and fuel their faith.

Younger children can also have a faith experience at World Meeting of Families 2018. A special children’s programme will be run concurrent to the adult/youth programme for children aged 4 to 12. Parents will be able to leave their little ones at the children’s programme with a professional vetted team or stay with them while the children enjoy an exciting and interactive programme planned just for them.

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