Strengthening of Marriage and Family Life

The Body of Christ, the Church, is the Bride of Christ, united intimately to him in many ways, with the ultimate expression of intimacy in the Eucharist, in which the two become one so that the Body of Christ can be fruitful. Marriage and family life are the best means for supporting this vision of Christ’s union with the Church.

• We must evaluate how we convey the beauty of the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage, sexuality, and family life from the earliest days in a child’s development, through childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood; then strengthen these teachings so that upon them can be built strong marriages and families.
• We must be good stewards toward those families who are suffering from violence, separation, chronic illnesses, or poverty, bringing them healing and strength in the name of Jesus.
• Families and individuals who suffer from poverty must be given special care and attention, so that strengthening family life, many of the roots of poverty may be eliminated.
• Families must be given the means to be aware of themselves as the “domestic church,” where the forgiving and healing love of Christ is encountered, and from which all are sent out on mission, nourished and clothed in the Word of God.
• Leaders must be trained to reach out to Catholic families who are not living truly Catholic marriages, to present to them the beauty of the sacrament of Matrimony and to invite them to enter fully into it.