Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Family is the basic unit of the recall having family prayer every church. Though there are many evening before dinner time. We parts, each family member is a vital were taught to lean on the Lord for piece of the puzzle. When one all our desires and shortcomings. person is undergoing difficulties, all We placed our family in the hands other members come to their of our God, trusting in His will. I support. All are united in love, remember how my grandparents regardless of any disagreements or would wake up at 5am every day individual differences. to pray the rosary together before going to mass. They exhibited a The greatest commandment that great example of faith in the family. Jesus gave us is to love. Love begins at home. There are many challenges, We can also look to the example as well as opportunities, for spiritual of the Holy family. Even though growth within a household. There they had to undergo many are countless encounters to exhibit hardships, they persevered through forgiveness and patience, especially prayer and love. Jesus was when we are pushed beyond our obedient to His earthly parents, and limits. It is here that we still choose they unanimously trusted in the will to love and forget anything in the of the Father. Let us also build up past that was hurtful. our families to be holy and filled with love, striving for the kingdom Faith also begins at home.Afamily of heaven. that prays together, stays together. Even in my earliest memories, I can Nabbissa Edayatharayil These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7)
Fr. Thomas Mulavanal to be faithful in our life one in Christ. Every family must be a than to be successful branch that inseparably connected Vatican Council 11 described the materially. It is in the with its vine (Christ) will bear fruits. family as the “domestic church” family where God is Jesus said, “I am the vine, and you – the body of Christ in the home honoured, his law is are the branches. If you remain in me (Lumen Gentium #11). In its respected, prayer is and I in you, you will bear many document, family in the modern world recited together, virtue fruits” (Jn. 15. 5). (familiaris consortio) we read: “The is transmitted, and family, which is founded and given life everyone shares love Hence it is very important for families by love, is a community of persons: and hope. to be centred in Christ and witness of husband and wife, of parents and Christian love and life to the world. children, of relatives… The family’s We are called to try to live out our Easter is a special season to be inner principle is love. Without love faith in family life. When parents seek reminded about the Christ centred the family cannot live, grow, and the will of God and share the love and families that forms and are the perfect itself… without love man unity, as it is embodied in three backbone of the catholic church. remains incomprehensible to himself, persons in one God, the entire gospel May Our family’s call for living out his life is senseless if love is not is proclaimed and practiced in that the faith and being the witnesses for revealed in him” (#18). When family family. We see selfless communication, the risen Lord be the focus of our is centred in love (in its full sense) the sacrifice, unity, and love in the family. thoughts. Let every family member domestic church is inborn in it. Parents never count their sacrifices for realize the concept of the family being their children and will not expect from the domestic church and step up to We all learn to love through the family. them equalled returns of what they contribute towards the growth of the Family is called the first school of love have done for them. They create an families and church in every possible in the world. We naturally ask why emotional bond to support each other way. May the Risen Lord and His family is resembled with church. The and will always expect the wellbeing mother who stood by him at the reason is that the church is the place of every member of the family. passion on the cross and the glory of where the faithful are sharing the resurrection, be with us all. gospel through word and deed. As Early church had a mission statement family is established by God, the that conveyed their “modus of W church is also founded by God. When operandi”, a particular way of living members of the family gather for their faith. ”They devoted themselves Honoryour father and your mother, worship and fellowship under the to the apostles’ teaching and to the that you may live a long time in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that forms fellowship, to the breaking of bread the church. It is in this church where and to prayer.” (Act 2.24). The same land the Lord your God is giving God has deposited sacramental grace way of life is expected from all for the salvation of the soul. Christian families. Families as a little to you. (Exodus 20:12) church need to study the word of Every family is like a little church God, create a place of fellowship, where people practice and live participate in the eucharistic worship, sacramental graces. Family is the basic and assemble for praying together. unit of the church and Christian living. Every action of the family needs to be Faith is born and raised in the family. grounded in true catholic faith. As Since God’s very life in us, we have members of one body, the family sufficient grace to believe, love and needs to cooperate and function as serve God. God gives us the grace
Christine Kunnumpurathu New Jersey Teaching children to participate as members in the Parents have the primary pray from a young age church. Growing spiritually together responsibility and God-given is very important for their as a couple keeps the family together authority to teach their children and and help navigate difficult situations are responsible for their children’s spiritual growth. together with faith. spiritual education. It is our duty as catholic parents to bring our children The family is the foundational As a family grows and a couple is to Jesus. Learning about God from institution of society, ordained blessed with children, they are able a young age is the best way for our by God. It is constituted by marriage to instill the same values in them. This children to be willing to participate and is composed of persons related can only be done if we ourselves in prayer and church services and to one another by marriage, blood have a good foundation set. We thus becoming successful members or adoption. As the foundation, a must then focus our attention so that of a parish. Teaching children to pray family is where we start the building our children are raised with faith and from a young age is very important blocks of faith for our church and love in Christ. As Jesus showed us for their spiritual growth. Teaching community. Our family is the first and by dying on the cross, parents and them the basic prayers, such as the easiest place for us to start instilling children are called to make sacrifices Rosary is a major stepping stone to important values within ourselves and for each other. Sometimes these their participation in the Holy our children so they become the sacrifices are difficult but this is where sacraments. Sending children to pillars of a church family. God wants faith comes in to guide us. Sunday school and encouraging us to spread his words within our children to participate in the holy families and those closest to us. Family is also the first place where sacraments as they get older, not only “These words which I am children can find out about love, enables them to grow spiritually but commanding you today, shall be on companionship and forgiveness. also enables them to share their your heart. And you shall repeat Parents can set children a good values with their peers. “...you them diligently to your sons and example of how to live a Christian yourselves are full of goodness, filled speak of them when you sit in your life. A family is where parents can with knowledge and competent to house, when you walk on the road, show children how to take care of instruct one another” (Romans when you lie down, and when you each other, care for our elders and 15:14). Children learn what they are get up”. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). those that are in need within the taught, it is that simple. To teach, is family. They then take these values not easy, but worth it in the end. In a marriage, as husband and wife learned at home and can use it in the we show respect and care towards community and the church. See Page: 5 one another. These are the same values that we should instill towards God and the Church. Praying together as a couple not only help us grow together spiritually, it also helps us as we learn to actively
Neethu Tom Jose Kadiampallil, New Jersey Love is patient , love is members. Through the smile thankful and grateful for ev- kind. It does not envy, we can give emotional sup- erything in our life. And also it does not boast, it is not port to others. it is very important to teach proud. It is not rude, it is not 2. Peace our kids how to pray and the self seeking, it is not easily importance of prayer. angered, it keeps no record I strongly believe that 5. Communication of wrongs. Love does not a peaceful mind of people is delight in evil but rejoices important in family life. Talk Proper communica- with the truth. It always pro- each other and make solutions tion is very important in fam- tects , always trusts, always for the problems. If no peace, ily life. If we have effective hopes, always perseveres. no happiness will be there. communication, we can im- Love never fails. 3. Respect each other prove our relationship, in- (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) crease respect and success. “Family relationships are dif- We need to respect We should find time to listen ferent from other types of each other to maintain our re- to others. We need an under- bonds. It’s comes with its lationships in the family. We standable and respectful unique feelings, behaviors, should respect other’s hard communication. challenges and rewards. work and dedication. Respect 6. Time Family is the most comfort- in your relationships builds able place for everyone. feeling of trust, safety and This is what Shakespeare 1. Happinesses well being. wrote about time. “Let every Happiness in the family is 4. Prayer man be master of his time”. very important. If we can We should find time for oth- smile, that is the best thing Prayer is an important key ers. Time is intangible and we can give to our family to success in our family life. once it’s gone, it’s gone. The family that prays together stays together. We should be W continuation page -4 within our households and guide our I have no greater joy homes in faith thereby leading our than to hear that my “For the husband is the head of the family to be followers of Christ. So, children are walking in wife, as Christ also is the head of the guide your homes, guide your children church, He Himself being the Savior in faith so that they may become the truth. of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). So active participants in their church (3 John 1:4) just as God is the father and Jesus communities and cater to the spiritual the head of the Catholic church, so growth of generations to come.W as parents, we need to be leaders
Eucharistic miracle of El Escorial Spain, 1572 In 1572, some protestant mercenaries entered into the Catholic church in Gorkum, in Spain and plundered it. As a sign of insult, one of the mercenaries trampled a consecrated Host with a spiked boot, which broke the Blessed Sacrament into three pieces. Live Blood immediately began to drip from these piercings, which in the Hosts formed themselves like three small wounds in the shape of a hoop that is possible to contemplate even today The relic of the Eucharistic miracle can be venerated even today in Spain. It is kept in the Royal Monastery in El Escorial, but the miracle was verified in Holland. W YOUCAT 368 What place does the family have in God’s plan of creation? Aman and a woman who are married to each other in relationships. Nowhere do children grow form, together with their children, a family. God up as well as in an intact family, in which they wills that the love of the spouses, if possible, should experience heartfelt affection, mutual respect, produce children. These children, who are entrusted andresponsibilityforoneanother. Finally,faith to the protection and care of their parents, have the grows in the family, too; the family is, the same dignity as their parents. Church tells us, a miniature church, a “domestic God himself, in the depths of theTrinity, is communion. church”, the radiance of which should invite In the human sphere, the family is the primordial image others into this fellowship of faith, charity, and ofcommunion. Thefamilyistheuniqueschoolofliving hope. W Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy 5:29) “The family is a necessary good for peoples, an “The Christian family constitutes a indispensable foundation for society and a great specific revelation and realization of and lifelong treasure for couples. It is a unique ecclesial communion, and for this good for children, who are meant to be the fruit of reason it can and should be called the love, of the total and generous self-giving of a domestic church.” CCC their parents.” Pope Benedict XVI
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