Msgr. John Alesandro has written a timely book on Church law about marriage and the family. It was inspired as Pope Francis was inviting bishops of the world to a Synod on the Family.
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Msgr. John Alesandro has written a timely book on Church law about marriage and the family. It was inspired as Pope Francis was inviting bishops of the world to a Synod on the Family.
When an aide suggested Pope Francis offer to fly some Syrian refugees back to Rome with him, the pope said he agreed immediately because it was “an inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
This week, I begin a series of four articles in which I hope to give you a sampling of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, entitled, “Amoris Laetitia,” “The Joy of Love.”
At the Easter Vigil a few weeks ago, tens of thousands of men and women, mature adults, were baptized or entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Each of them walked a unique itinerary of conversion; each of these “newborn babes” (1 Peter 2:2) is a singular work of the Holy Spirit.
Pope Francis’ long-awaited response to the work of the 2014 and 2015 Extraordinary Synods on the Family was finally released and, of course, many people have weighed in, almost immediately, on the document – some without actually reading what it says.
Church leaders from around the world hailed the tone of mercy in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), but cautioned against a hurried reading of the document.
In an interview with Currents, the diocesan cable TV news show, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said it would be years before the apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”) is fully understood.
Pope Francis, with his papal exhortation from the Synod on the Family, “Amoris Laetitia,” has created a mess, just the way he likes it. In his long-awaited commentary from the Synods of the last two years, the Holy Father has reinforced the teaching of the Church – what else could he do? – but suggested that it be applied in a more merciful way.
In “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), Pope Francis’ postsynodal apostolic exhortation on the family, there is passion and devotion, but also heartache and sweat. The “magic” he wrote about is not momentarily sparkly, but the result of prayer, grace, hard work and a willingness to apologize – time and time again.
The same mercy and patience that are essential for building a strong family must be shown to those whose families are in trouble or have broken up, Pope Francis said in his highly anticipated postsynodal apostolic exhortation.