During his Sunday speech in Angelus, Pope Francis announced a year to study more deeply the content of the apostolic exhortation “Amoris laetitia” during his reflection on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
By Vatican News staff reporter
Sunday, the feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis told the weekly Angelus, calls us to reflect “on the fact that the Son of God wanted to need the warmth of a family, like all children.” This is why the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph can serve as a model “in which all the families of the world can find their sure point of reference and sure inspiration”.
Families open to joy
A key note of the family life in Nazareth was joy, with Baby Jesus “surrounded by Mary’s motherly affection and Joseph’s care, in which Jesus could see God’s tenderness.”
And we, said Pope Francis, “are called to rediscover the educational value of the family unit.” He said families must be based on “love that always regenerates relationships, opening horizons of hope.” The Pope stressed the importance of prayer, affection, forgiveness, tenderness, and adherence to God’s will in the family. “In this way,” he said, “the family opens itself to the joy that God gives to all who know how to give joy. “
A happy home, he added, is also out: “find the spiritual energy to be open to the outside world, to others, to the service of brothers and sisters, to collaborate in building an ever new and better world,” especially through the example of life. daily.
Three important words
Pope Francis acknowledged that every family has its problems and that sometimes, because we are human, because we are weak, we even fight within the family. “I want to tell you one thing,” the pope said. “If we fight in the family, never end the day without making peace.” Once again, he recommended three words that should be common in every family: “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry.” If these three words are present in the family, he said, the family will be in good shape.
A year of reflection on love rejoiced
Returning to the theme of “evangelization with the family”, Pope Francis said that the feast of Sunday once again proposes to us the ideal of conjugal and family love, underlined by the apostolic exhortation. joy, promulgated five years ago ”by the feast of St. Joseph in 2016.
Next year, he said, “will be a year of reflection on joy“, He added,” and there will be an opportunity to deepen the content of the document. “During this special year,” he said, “these reflections will be made available to ecclesial communities and families to accompany them on their journey. In particular, Pope Francis invited everyone” to take part in initiatives that will be promoted throughout the year, and this will be coordinated by the Department for lay people, family and life. ”
The Holy Father continued to entrust the “journey” of the Year “joy Family ”to“ The Holy Family of Nazareth and especially to St. Joseph, the devoted husband and father ”.
Following the Angelus, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the Special Year dedicated to “Family joy“It will be inaugurated at the upcoming Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19, 2021) and will conclude with the celebration of the tenth world meeting of families, which will take place here in Rome in June 2022.”