Accompanying fragility : a reading of Amoris Laetitia from a pastoral-psychological perspective

Abstract

Acknowledging and accompanying fragility reflects the realism of Amoris Lætitia and its strong pastoral approach. This is no mere pragmatism as it continues to strongly reaffirm the Gospel ideals and Church teachings on marriage and the family. While respecting individual autonomy and personal responsibility in the context of one’s particular condition, it adopts a pedagogy of patience and support in the process leading to a gradual integration of the ideals. The exhortation mirrors the traditional functions of pastoral care, as is healing, sustaining, guiding and reconciling, all within the context of the Internal Forum. The exhortation distinguishes between a sacramental (penance) and a non-sacramental approach within the same internal forum. This makes it possible that a solution be reached not necessarily in the confessional. Indeed, most human problems are mixtures of conflicted human freedom (psychological) and moral and religious dilemmas. This approach mirrors very closely the one adopted by Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Discernment. While the latter focuses more on spiritual issues, the former is characterized by the building of a workable and warm relationship in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding, and given enough time and support, the client autonomously is helped to develop or rediscover problem-solving skills. This calls for the formation of pastoral functionaries, whether ordained or lay, who are sufficiently trained in such disciplines and who could offer such help outside the confessional. This study focuses on the pastoral counseling paradigm as the one that closely reflects the spirit of the exhortation. Amoris Lætitia touches also on other aspects which are typically the domain of psychology, such as understanding and integrating emotions, and the role of emotions in commitment to marriage.