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User’s Guide to Sunday
Marriage Help and the Pope’s Friendship
BY Tom & April Hoopes April 20-26, 2008 Issue |
Posted 4/15/08 at 2:00 PM
Sunday, April 27, is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Today at 9
a.m., Pope Benedict XVI will ordain deacons for the Diocese of Rome in St.
Peter’s Basilica.
Parish
EPriest.com offers “Best Practices” ideas from various
parishes.
Father Tom Aschenbrener at St. Alphonsus parish in Chicago
recommends the “One in Christ” marriage seminar, which starts new marriages on
the right foot and refreshes more experienced married couples.
“Putting this seminar together is probably one of the
pinnacles of my priestly ministry,” said the priest.
The 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. seminar is a “turnkey” program with one
DVD, nine Power Point presentations, supplemental material, instruction guide,
speaker notes, outline for the day, discussion questions, prayers and videos of
couples who give their personal witness and testimony. Said the priest:
• 90% of those who have participated have a more positive
outlook. concerning chastity and Church
• Numerous couples have returned to more frequent reception
of sacraments
• Some couples living together before participating in the
program have subsequently chosen to abstain from sex until marriage.
Readings
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1Peter 3:15-18;
John 14:15-21
EPriest.com offers free homily packs for priests.
Our Take
Pope Benedict’s visit ends on this week’s issue date. The
central theme of his pastoral teaching has been to promote friendship with
Jesus.
He introduced the idea in his homily as cardinal before the
conclave that elected him.
He referred to the Last Supper discourse of Jesus, of which
today’s Gospel is a part. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments.”
Said Pope Benedict: “The Lord addresses these wonderful
words to us: ‘No longer do I call you servants ... but I have called you
friends’ (John 15:15). Many times we simply feel like useless servants, and it
is true (see Luke 17:10). And, despite this, the Lord calls us friends, he
makes us his friends, he gives us his friendship.
“The Lord defines friendship in two ways. There are no
secrets between friends: Christ tells us everything he hears from the Father;
he gives us his full confidence and, with confidence, also knowledge. He
reveals his face to us, his heart. He shows us his tenderness for us, his
passionate love that goes to the folly of the cross. ...
“The second element with which Jesus defines friendship is
the communion of wills. Idem velle — idem nolle (what you like, I like), was
also for Romans the definition of friendship. ‘You are my friends if you do
what I command you’ (John 15:14). Friendship with Christ coincides with what
the third petition of the Our Father expresses: ‘Thy will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven.’”
Family
Your family can follow Pope Benedict’s advice today by
trying two different activities.
1. Pray. Just as we talk to our friends, we should talk to
Jesus. As Pope Benedict says, he shares everything with us. Take the children
to the church sometime when Mass isn’t being offered. Kneel in front of the
tabernacle.
As the children listen, lead them through a brief period of
silent prayer.
Start by invoking the Holy Spirit. Then say, softly, an act
of faith, hope and love. Pausing after each brief prayer, lead them through the
ACTS of prayer: Adoration (“Oh my God, I adore you. You are so great and I am
so small.”); Contrition (“Jesus, I am so sorry for the times I have offended
you. Please forgive me.”); Thanksgiving (“Jesus we thank you for our family,
our food, our many blessings, and especially for our faith.”); and Supplication
(“Bless the Pope, bishops and priests; bless the sick and the poor; bless our
extended family; and give us what we most need in the spiritual life.”)
2. Act. Friendship means that we like what Christ likes. He
loves serving others. Arrange ahead of time to do a charitable deed: Bringing
clothes to a goodwill drop-off, food to a food pantry, bring McDonald’s gift
certificates to a homeless person, visit a nursing home (they love seeing the
kids) or, if you have the opportunity, take those old enough to help at a soup
kitchen, home for unwed mothers, or other service volunteer opportunities.
The Hoopeses are editorial directors of
Faith & Family magazine
(faithandfamilymag.com).
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