California Catholic bishops are launching a yearlong initiative to celebrate and encourage marriage and families through educational resources and parish-based resources, citing attacks on marriage and the decline of faith in the Eucharist as the reasons behind the initiative.
“Our culture has been wounded by the erosion of an authentic vision of love, sexuality, and marriage,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said in a July 30 press release.
The “Radiate Love” initiative takes inspiration from the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, because Jesus “believes marriage is beautiful and worth celebrating,” the website says.
“Under the title ‘Radiate Love,’ the bishops of California invite all to reflect on how the communion of husband and wife is an icon of the Eucharist, where Jesus invites us to a supernatural union between our humanity and his divinity,” Cordileone said.
The initiative features monthly reflections by California bishops on marriage and the family as well as ways that couples, families, young adults, parishes, and ministries can “radiate love.”
For instance, married couples could go on a date night together, pray together, or learn about fertility awareness, the website suggests. Young adult ministries might offer a book or Bible study, host a “Theology on Tap” event, or host a film screening about topics relating to dating, marriage, and relationship skills. Parishes might offer blessings for married couples and families or invite married couples to marriage ministry.
“There’s an urgent need for churches to adopt new strategies to restore marriage and improve fatherhood,” explained Mario Martinez, director of the San Bernardino Diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life, in the release. “Healthy marriage is a lifetime commitment that requires continuous effort, communication, and mutual giving and support.”
The initiative features monthly themes such as “The Adventure of Commitment in October,” “Bring on the Wine!” in January, and “Love is a Verb!” in April.
“Marriage reflects the abiding work of both God’s creation of humanity and God’s redemption of humanity. The union of man and woman reveals the transcendent, self-sacrificing, and life-giving orientation of the human person when we are most truly the image of God,” said Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, who chairs the California Catholic Conference Marriage Committee, in the press release.
“In sacramental marriage, their complementary communion truly communicates divine wisdom and mercy to one another and the world,” he continued.
Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno shared his own family experience.
“My parents came from two different backgrounds, two very different schools of thought on faith, values, and commitment,” he said. “Yet, despite their differences and in the early 1940s, when the world seemed to be falling apart, they came together and, encouraged by the greatest priest I have ever known (my uncle), they committed to a belief in a world full of hope and promise and radiated love by raising me and my nine siblings with a model of faithfulness, goodness, and perseverance that continues to permeate the newer generations of my family.”
From Angelus News
The “Radiate Love” initiative by the California Bishops is encouraging and positive, especially since the family of a man and woman is under such fierce attack today. According to Sister Lucia of Fatima, “The final battle between the Lord and the Kingdom of Satan will be about Marriage and the Family. Don’t be afraid, she added. The Rosary Priest, Venerable Father Patrick Peyton said, “The family that prays together stays together.” He also said, “A world at prayer is a world at peace.” Our Lady of Fatima pray for the family created by Almighty God.
Preach Christian Morality, Self-Control, Maturity, Responsibility, Unselfishness, and Good Manners, before you talk about “Love.” Preach the goodness of God-created, natural, normal, mature Manhood and Womanhood, Fatherhood and Motherhood. Preach the natural goodness of Home and Family, and the Home as a Donestic Church, in which Christ and the Holy Family dwell. Preach the holiness and goodness of Our Blessed Mother, and to pray the Rosary together, and attend Holy Mass together, with someone you are dating, and getting more serious with. Let God guide your future together. Lifelong Marriage in Christ is a holy Sacrament, a pathway guiding you and your future children, each day, to Heaven.
Beautifully said!
On Sunday, Aug. 18th at Noon, a Rosary Rally of Reparation and protest will take place at Hot Johnnie’s Smokehouse, 4077 18th St. in San Francisco, because they are holding a Drag Queen Brunch for all, including “children of all ages.” Shame on them! All are welcome to come join the Rosary Rally.
Anyone interested in more information about the Rosary Rally of Reparation and Protest can call Rolando at (415) 374-9138.
Rosary Rally against Drag Queen Brunch: It seems to me that hot Johnnie’s not so hot.
I LOVE Bishop Brennan more and more each day.
I truly think he’s “the real deal”.
God bless him.
Too bad there are hardly any Catholics under 30 who attend Mass who could participate in this program. Get the Catholics back to Mass, and then you’ll have more Catholic weddings. My parish has only two weddings this year. Two the whole year. Young Catholics are not getting married and they’re not going to Mass.
And why don’t the bishops say that gays are the main problem? Gay marriage destroyed marriage.
“And why don’t the bishops say that gays are the main problem?” I think it is because the bishops do not agree with you that gays have ruined marriage. I think the advent of the pill around 1960 gave rise to a pornographic culture–and this predates the gay-rights movement by perhaps 15 years The article states: “Our culture has been wounded by the erosion of an authentic vision of love, sexuality, and marriage,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said in a July 30 press release.” This was well accounted for by Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae in 1968.
Very well said.
Your handle is false: contracepted sex is not gay sex. I’m not gay, and neither is my wife. I would never do what gays do. It’s gross.