杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

An important part of the programme for 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, was the meeting he himself requested in order to listen to engaged and married couples. During the question and answer encounter at Dublin鈥檚 Saint Mary鈥檚 Pro-Cathedral, the 杏MAP导航 told those present that 鈥渙ur world needs a revolution of love鈥�. 鈥淟et that revolution begin with you and your families鈥�, he said.

A family tree without roots

杏MAP导航 Francis stressed the importance of this love, saying that we must return to and take care of our family roots. 鈥淣o family can grow if it forgets its roots鈥�, he said. These roots transmit the generational experiences that teach us life and love. 鈥淐hildren will not grow in love if they do not learn how to converse with their grandparents鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Keepers of collective memory

The 杏MAP导航 went on to thank an elderly couple who were there at Saint Mary鈥檚 to present their testimony after recently celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary. 杏MAP导航 Francis said the witness of their struggles and the stories of their experiences are valuable to all young couples, and to anyone engaged in the long journey that is marriage. The 杏MAP导航 described them as 鈥渒eepers of our collective memory鈥� and said their faith-filled witness 鈥渋s a precious resource for young couples, who look to the future with excitement and hope and, perhaps, a touch of trepidation!鈥�.

Parents as teachers

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to address the questions of two more couples, one of which regarded transmitting the faith to their children. It is in the 鈥渄omestic church鈥�, he replied, that 鈥渃hildren learn the meaning of fidelity, integrity and sacrifice鈥�. 鈥淭he faith is passed on around the family table, in ordinary conversation, in the language that persevering love alone knows how to speak鈥�.

Addressing parents directly, the 杏MAP导航 said 鈥淵our children will learn how to share the goods of the earth with everyone, if they see how their parents take care of others, who are poorer or less fortunate than themselves鈥�. Parents, he concluded, will always be their children鈥檚 鈥渇irst teachers in the faith鈥�.

God鈥檚 dream of love

Another question concerned how to show that marriage is a vocation and not just a simple institution. 鈥淣owadays we are not used to anything that really lasts for the whole of our lives鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 replied. 鈥淭he sacrament of matrimony鈥�, he added, 鈥渟hares in the mystery of God鈥檚 eternal love鈥�.

Going off script, 杏MAP导航 Francis added that 鈥渢emporary love is, in fact, infatuation or puppy love. Love is definitive鈥�, he added: 鈥渁n 鈥業鈥� and a 鈥榶ou鈥欌��.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis described love as 鈥淕od鈥檚 dream for us and for the whole human family鈥�, one that He asks us to make our own. 鈥淧lease, never forget this鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁nd never stop dreaming!鈥�.