Earlier this year, Pope Francis published his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family, the fruit of the two recent synods of bishops, whose theme was the family. Here are some excerpts from the Exhortation. 72. The sacrament of marriage is a gift given for the sanctification and salvation of the spouses, since their mutual belonging is a real representation of the relationship between Christ and the Church. 104. Our first reaction when we are annoyed should be one of heartfelt blessing, asking God to bless that person. “Bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Pet 3:9). 181. Families should not see themselves as a refuge from society, but instead go forth from their homes in a spirit of solidarity with others. Married couples should have a clear awareness of their social obligations. With this, their affection does not diminish but is flooded with new light. 255. Our loved ones who have died, can no longer be physically present to us, yet “love is strong as death” Song 8:6. Love involves an intuition that can enable us to hear without sounds and to see the unseen. This does not mean imagining our loved ones as they were, but being able to accept them changed as they now are. 288. It is essential that children actually see that, for their parents, prayer is something truly important. Hence moments of family prayer and acts of devotion can be more powerful for evangelization than any catechism class or sermon.

-Fr. Tom