Amoris laetitia : a vision of formation for the domestic church

Abstract

In Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis shows that families are an opportunity for the Church to form its members from childhood up until adulthood. Many times, life can be hard for sacramentally married couples to live in the world, with all the secular activity going on, while at the same time keeping in mind they are to do so enlightened by their faith. This does not mean that they are to give in and opt out of either reality. On the contrary, they are to continue doing both, knowing they are not alone, since God assists them through the Sacraments, particularly Baptism and Holy Matrimony, and also through his Church, who is very conscious of the struggles they have to go through to transform their family into a domestic church. Therefore, Pope Francis points out ways in which the families can grow to become ever more fully alive, both humanly and spiritually. With regards to human formation, he emphasises the need for human maturity, which can be attained if family members risk being present with each other and communicate their needs and their feelings. Then, with regards to spiritual formation, he encourages families to foster communication with God through prayer, since it is only from Him that the graces flow and consciences are built. The point of the dissertation is that families are called to minister while they are ministered to. This process is not finite, but ongoing, with every new day bringing new challenges to live and new lessons to learn. This should not be a stumbling block for families who participate in the life of the Church, but rather a motivation to help others live according to the good news of the Gospel.