During the Angelus speech on Sunday, Pope Francis announced a year to further study the content of the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris laetitia” during his reflection on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
By Vatican News staff reporter
The feast of the Holy Family on Sunday, Pope Francis told the weekly Angelus, calls us to reflect “on the fact that the Son of God wanted to need the warmth of a family, like all children.” Therefore, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph can serve as a model “in which all families in the world can find their safe point of reference and safe inspiration.”
Families open to joy
A key note in the life of the family of Nazareth was joy, with the Child Jesus “surrounded by the maternal affection of Mary and the care of Joseph, in whom Jesus could see the tenderness of God.”
We too, said Pope Francis, “are called to rediscover the educational value of the family unit.” He said families should be founded “on the love that always regenerates relationships, opening horizons of hope.” The Pope stressed the importance in the family of prayer, affection, forgiveness, tenderness and adherence to the will of God. “In this way,” he said, “the family opens itself to the joy that God gives to all who know how to give joyfully.”
A happy home, he added, also comes out: “find the spiritual energy to be open to the outside world, to others, to the service of brothers and sisters, to collaboration in building an ever better and better world “, especially by the example of everyday life.
Three important words
Pope Francis acknowledged that every family has its problems and that sometimes because we are human, because we are weak, we even struggle within the family. “I want to tell you something,” the Pope said. “If we fight as a family, we never end the day without making peace.” Again, he recommended three words that should be common to all families: “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry.” If these three words are present in the family, he said, the family will be in good shape.
A year of reflection on love rejoiced
Returning to the theme of “evangelizing with the family,” Pope Francis said that Sunday’s feast proposes once again “the ideal of conjugal and family love, as the Apostolic Exhortation emphasizes. The joy, promulgated five years ago ”at the 2016 Sant Josep festival.
Next year, he said, “will be a year of reflection on The joy“He added,” and it will be an opportunity to delve deeper into the content of the document. “During this special year, he said,” these reflections will be made available to church communities and families to accompany them on their journey. . In particular, Pope Francis invited everyone “to participate in the initiatives that will be promoted during the year, and which will be coordinated by the Dicastery for the laity, the family and life.”
The Holy Father entrusted the “journey” of the Year “The joy Family ”in“ the Holy Family of Nazareth, and in particular in St. Joseph, the devout spouse and father ”.
After the Angelus, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the special Year dedicated to the “Family The joy“The next Solemnity of St. Joseph will be inaugurated (March 19, 2021) and will conclude with the celebration of the Tenth World Meeting of Families, to be held here in Rome in June 2022.”