Quoting from Gaudete et exsultate, he continued: “In this sense, family life can become an expression of holiness as ‘the most attractive face of the Church.’ This shows us how useful it is to cross-reference Amoris laetitia and Gaudete et exsultate, as Pope Francis suggests in the theme of the meeting, in order to better understand family vocation.”
De Donatis said that Catholic families should seek inspiration from saintly couples such as Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin, the canonized parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux, and Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini, who were beatified together in 2001.
“Christian couples are invited to walk their path of holiness together, following in the footsteps of illustrious saints and beatified couples and sustained by their intercession,” he said.
“Example is given by the parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux or the Beltrame Quattrocchi couple, people who trustingly accepted life’s painful trials and who saw the faithful presence of Christ in the story of their love.”
Citing Amoris laetitia, he concluded: “The surge of hope generated by God’s faithful love gives rise to a desire to proclaim God’s love and make the family ‘the way of the Church,’ the place where new vocations are nurtured.”
The official prayer of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome:
Family Love: Vocation and Path to Holiness
Heavenly Father,
We come before You to praise You
and to thank You for the great gift of the family.
We pray to You for all families
consecrated by the Sacrament of Matrimony.
May they rediscover each day
the grace they have received,
and as small domestic Churches,
may they know how to witness to Your presence
and to the love with which Christ loves the Church.
We pray to You for all families faced with difficulty and suffering
caused by illness or circumstances of which only You know.
Sustain them and make them aware
of the path to holiness upon which You call them,
so that they might experience Your infinite mercy
and find new ways to grow in love.
We pray to You for children and young people:
may they encounter You and respond joyfully
to the vocation You have in mind for them;
We pray for parents and grandparents: may they be aware
that they are signs of the fatherhood and motherhood of God
in caring for the children who, in body and spirit, You entrust to them;
and for the experience of fraternity
that the family can give to the world.
Lord, grant that each family
might live their specific vocation to holiness in the Church
as a call to become missionary disciples,
in the service of life and peace,
in communion with our priests, religious,
and all vocations in the Church.
Bless the World Meeting of Families.
Amen.
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