A family is a group of people related by blood and living together, comprising of the father, mother children and other relatives. In the words of Pope St. John Paul II, the family is "a community of persons; of husband and wives of parents and children, of relatives. It's first task is to live with fidelity the reality of community of persons" (Familiar is Consortio, no.18).
The term "family" has a Latin root "familia", which points to concepts such as "servants" and "household". This means that it is a household servants who attend to the need of one another and those of the society. In ancient Hebrew, the family was seen as an agent shaping the nation of Isreal. Family relationships, thus, were seen to be symbolic of the loving relationship between God and his chosen people.
St. John Chrysostom spoke of the family as a "little Church". The Catholic Church strongly emphasizes that the family is a "Domestic Church"; that is "Ecclesia domestica", a "church in miniature". Indeed, the family is like a little Church, because it radiates the love and peace of Christ by virtue of the Sacrament of Marriage. The Christian family, just like the Church, must always be regarded as the centre to which Gospel must be brought and from which it must be proclaimed. When the members of the family become aware of this role of proclaiming the gospel, they become evangelizers and in the process of evangelizing one another they get evangelized themselves. When there is a healthy family, there is a healthy church, and a healthy society.
More so, the Christian family is a group of relatives established by God to live together in intimacy, and in a communion of faith, hope and charity. This is a sign of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. A family that is lovingly open to procreation and education of children reflects the Family's work of creation. Thus, the family is a privileged community called to a "sharing cooperation as a parents in their children's upbringing.
THE FAMILY MUST DEFEND AND PROTECT LIFE.
"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning and until its end. No one can, under any circumstances, claim for himself, the right directly to destroy an innocent human being". "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person, among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." ( The Catechism of the Catholic Church, nn. 2258, 2270)
In the bible, both old and new Testaments, life is seen as a divine gift to be valued (Eccl.9:4; Jn. 15:13). Respect for life requires that it be protected rather than attacked, preserved rather than destroyed. Life is seen fundamentally important, only sin can distort it. Sinners are invited to turn from their evil ways in order to live a God-intended life.(Ez. 18:32). True life is not the personal property of any one class, colour, race, sex, nation or culture that can be used and destroyed at will.
Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and their common good. Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society helps in the attainment of living conditions that allow them grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, healthycare, basic education, employment and social assistance.
The future of the Church and society is in the hands of families. The Church teaches that from marriage of Christians emerges the family in which new citizens of human society are born and, by the grace of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, are made children of God so that the people of God may be preserved throughout the centuries (Lumen Gentium, no. 11).
"Married people are the free and responsible collaborators with God, the Creator, in the most serious duty of transmitting human life" (Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, no. 1).
The Church, while teaching the demands of the divine law, announces the tidings of salvation, and by means of the sacraments open up the path of grace, which makes man a new creature, capable of responding with love and true freedom to the design of his Creator and Saviour; Christian married couples then, docile to her voice must remember that their Christian vocation, which began at Baptism, is further specified and reinforced by Sacrament of Matrimony. By it, husband and wife are strengthened and as it were, consecrated for carrying out their proper vocation up to perfection. Let married couples, then face up to the efforts needed, supported by faith and hope which "do not disappoint... because God's love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit. They should approach the source of grace, the Eucharist; and seek the mercy in the Sacrament of penance. This will lead to a conjugal life and proper family living (Humanae Vitae, No. 25).
Remain blessed!!!
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