History has proven that when the family
is under attack and the family starts to unravel and dissolve,
then the whole of the society crumbles like a house with a weak foundation in
an earthquake. This can be proved by a
study of the Greek and Roman civilizations; the family entered into crisis and
so did those societies and then the civilizations crumble!
How then can we fight valiantly for the
future of the world by safeguarding the family?
We will offer some clear and practical suggestions. Some of the points might appear obvious to
many of our readers, but due to a widespread tsunami of paganism, materialism,
and hedonism, what appears to be obvious to many is unclear to others!
1. TRADITIONAL FAMILY.
The family consists of man and woman who unite in the love of God and
each other in a mutual and permanent bond until death do they part. Union
between those of the same-sex has never been a marriage or family and it never
will be in the eyes of God. The Book of Genesis clearly states that a man will
leave his father and mother and cling to his wife; and what God has united let
no man rend asunder. God created “Adam
and Eve” and not “Adam and Steve!”
2.CHILDREN One of the primary purposes of marriage is
that of willingly and generously accepting from God the gift of CHILDREN. How beautiful and sublime the word PROCREATION--- meaning that both man and
woman collaborate and cooperate with God in creating a new human person who
will live in time and for all eternity.
Man and woman provide the material element, and God provides the spiritual
element (the soul) which He infuses in the baby at the very moment of
conception. What a sublime and elevated mission is that of being fathers and
mothers--- that both collaborate and one day that individual person will be
united with God forever in heaven.
3.
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY. Among the many spiritual plagues and diseases
in the modern world is the sad and all too prevalent reality of couples living
together. There are various names for these
phenomena and various reasons. Names?
“Cohabitation”, “Trial marriage”, “Shacking up together”, "Living together". Reasons?
Obviously not from God but from the enemy!
The lies of the enemy spew out with constant venom and damage. “We have
to see if we are compatible!” Or “We do
not want to make a serious mistake!” Still
yet “We are happy as we are and we know several couples that once they did get
married, then they separated!” In the
meantime while they are cohabitating, all the following poisonous effects ensue:
they cut themselves off from the sacramental life by living in mortal sin and
can neither go to Confession nor receive Holy Communion. Also, if they have children, they are giving scandal
(bad example, the “Mill-stone award”) to their children. Finally, they are
living in a state of permanent fornication, forming a slavery to sin which
blinds their eyes form seeing God, deafens their spiritual ears form hearing
His voice and chains them to the slavery of sin. Worst of all, if they were to
die in this state of unrepentant mortal sin, they could lose their souls for
all eternity! In other words, nothing good
ever comes out of sin. From a bad tree rotten and worm infested fruits will
come forth!
4.
CHRISTOCENTRIC MARRIAGE NOT EGOCENTRIC. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, on the
topic of marriage penned a classic It
takes three to get married. Who are
those three? The husband, the wife, and
the most important among the three, JESUS!
Jesus is the “Super-glue” that holds the couple and family together. In my wedding homilies I question the two
future spouses as to what would be the best thing that both could do for the
other??? Taken by surprise often they are stunned with the question. Whereupon,
I give a very clear and concise response!
The best thing that John can do for Mary is to fall in love with Jesus
every day! And the best thing that Mary can do for John is the same: to fall in love with Jesus every day! If both husband and wife make a daily
concerted effort to grow in their love for Jesus then naturally and necessarily
they will fall in love with each other and be able to impart a noble and pure
love towards the children that God will bless them with! Putting it bluntly: marriages fall apart
because they are “Egocentric in nature and not Christocentric!”
5.
PERMANENT COMMITMENT.
In the marriage ceremony the couple makes a solemn promise of fidelity
using the following words: “I promise to
be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in health and in sickness, in
riches and in poverty until death do we part.” This promise made before the
people of God, before the priest who represents Christ, and before the
Trinity--- Father, Son and Holy Spirit—who witness every word, action and even
the most secret intentions of our hearts, is very serious! The word “Separation” or “Divorce” should
never cross their minds nor should it be part of their vocabulary! “Permanent”
does not mean partial or temporary, but rather it means forever until one of
them is taken by death! In a world where
words are cheap, promises are broken, commitments are taken with a grain of
salt, more than 60% of marriages end up in divorce. We must fight all the
more firmly and vigorously for the stability, indissolubility and permanence of
holy Matrimony.
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| Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I Give You My Heart and My Soul |
May the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph help us with
their prayers, example, and witness to live out the marital commitment and
promise made on the day of Holy Matrimony.
The future of our children, our adolescents, our country, society, and
world at large depends on the future of the family. May God help us!
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