杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square for the Wednesday General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the 6th Commandment, 鈥淵ou shall not commit adultery鈥�, and said that as Christians, our 鈥渙riginal call鈥� is "to full and faithful spousal love", which Jesus Christ revealed and gave to us.

Commenting on the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, he described the concept as 鈥渞evolutionary鈥� saying that notwithstanding the 鈥渁nthropology of the time鈥� it affirms that 鈥渢he husband must love his wife as Christ loves the Church鈥�.

And elaborating on this, the 杏MAP导航 explained that although the Commandment refers 鈥渆xplicitly to matrimonial fidelity鈥�, it also speaks to every human relationship and vocation.

The 杏MAP导航 said the development of human maturity follows the path of love that goes from receiving care to the ability to offer care, from receiving life to the ability to give life.

Marriage is a beautiful journey

He said that when we become adults we are called to live a spousal and parental attitude, which is manifested in various situations of life, and explained that a person who is 鈥渁dulterous, luxurious, unfaithful鈥� is really an immature person who 鈥渒eeps his life for himself鈥� and interprets situations 鈥渙n the basis of his own well-being and self-satisfaction鈥�.

鈥淭o really get married鈥�, he said, 鈥渋t is not enough to celebrate marriage! We need to make a journey from the 鈥業鈥� to the 鈥榃e鈥� and think and live for each other鈥�.

Marriage, the 杏MAP导航 said, is a beautiful journey, and true love enables us to find ourselves and give ourselves away.

Priesthood and consecrated virginity

杏MAP导航 Francis then went on to say that the undying love of Christ, that is the basis of marital fidelity, is also reflected in the spousal love and spiritual parenthood that mark the vocations to priestly ministry and consecrated virginity.

In this sense, he said, every Christian vocation is spousal.

He said the priesthood is such because it is the call, in Christ and in the Church, to serve the community with all the love, care and wisdom that the Lord gives.

鈥淚n the priesthood we love the people of God with all the paternity, tenderness and strength of a spouse and a father鈥� he said.

In the same way, he continued, consecrated virginity in Christ must be lived faithfully and joyfully as a spousal relationship of fruitful motherhood and fatherhood.

The full meaning of sexuality

And referring to the very words of the 6th Commandment, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that as men and women, body and spirit, we are called to love in ways that leave no room for lust or promiscuity.

The command 鈥� 鈥淵ou shall not commit adultery鈥� 鈥� he said, is an invitation to live fully our original calling to that pure and faithful spousal love that is revealed in Jesus Christ.

In His mystery, he continued, and in his love we come to understand the full meaning of the gift of our human sexuality and the fidelity demanded by the marriage covenant.

鈥淭he human creature, in its inseparable unity of spirit and body, and in its masculine and feminine polarity, is a very good reality, destined to love and be loved. The human body is not an instrument of pleasure, but the place of our call to love, and in authentic love there is no room for lust and its superficiality. Men and women deserve more than this!鈥� he said

1 and 2 November

In his final greetings 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled that tomorrow we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and, on November 2, we commemorate all those who have departed.

鈥淭he witness of faith of those who have gone before us, should strengthen in us the certainty that God accompanies us on the path of life, never abandoning anyone to himself, and wants all of us to be holy, as he is holy鈥� he said.