On the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis published a letter he wrote for married couples just a day after Christmas.
POPE FRANCIS
'It is my Christmas gift to you, married couples—an encouragement, a sign of my closeness, and also an opportunity for meditation. It is important to reflect and experience God’s goodness and tenderness who, with His fatherly hand, guides the footsteps of spouses on the path of goodness.'
The letter acknowledges how difficult the pandemic has been for families around the world, and offers a way for them to repair relationships between spouses, including praying for patience and the ability to listen.
POPE FRANCIS
'Each day, a family needs to learn how to listen to each other to understand each other, to walk together, to face conflicts and difficulties. It is a daily challenge and it is overcome with the right attitude, through simple actions, caring for the details of our relationships.'
The Pope encourages married couples to leave their comfort zones, to love, and forgive their spouses boldly. In particular, he emphasizes the value of what he calls “three little words: 'please, thanks, and sorry.'”
He signs off by urging families to live out their vocation enthusiastically, for each other, their children, and the Church.
The letter comes during the Amoris Laetitia Family Year which will end with the World Meeting of Families next summer in Rome.
JM
