session four

Session Four

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY


“FAMILY BECOME WHAT YOU ARE.”

(F.C. #17)


“…An intimate community of life and love, founded on

the marriage of man and woman.”

(Vat II G.S. n. 48)

THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY


1) Forming an intimate community of persons:

in

communion

marriage family


INTIMACY

man woman

husband wife

parent parent

father child mother

brother sister


2) At the service of Life (serving life):

(a) its transmission (b) its education

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY2) LIFE AN ITS TRANSMISSION

Its transmission: Privilege and Responsibility

1) discernment of God’s creative intention

2) with prayer

3) stewardship of your fertility

4) act of pure love – “Why am I here?”

5) the unexpected child

6) adoption

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY2) LIFE AND EDUCATION

Its Education: As Co-educators – Primary Educatorsa) Love

b) Made in God’s image

c) A gift• To self

• To decide for self

• Sincere gift of self

d) Virtues• Justice

• Honesty

• Forgiveness

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY2) LIFE AND EDUCATION

The Family – The First School of:

- love - of social virtues

- forgiveness - in community life

- respect - of communication

- conscience - of truth

- a simple & austere lifestyle - of true freedom

- of the Gospel

- of Christian marriage and family preparation

- of prayer

- of vocation

- of the fourth commandment


3) At the service of society (participating in its development):

(a) as a basic cell (b) as a healthy cell

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY3) Society

Development – into a Civilization of Life and Love:

1) As healthy cells-• Organically linked

• Common good

• Principle of subsidiarity

2) Gift of maturing adults

3) Economically –• A healthy stable marriage and family does ?

• A healthy stable marriage and family does not ?

4) Families reaching out to other families in need

5) Associations of families


4. At the service of the Church (sharing in the life and mission of the Church):

(a) as Domestic Church (b) as Bride of Christ

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY4) THE CHURCH

The family is the Basic Cell of the Church, Called the Domestic Church

TASK: - bringing and giving Christ to the world as a community; the Christian family does this as a family.

a) prophetic family service

b) priestly family service

c) kingly family service

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY4A) A PROPHETIC FAMILY BY

Listening

Integrating

Proclaiming

Bearing Witness to THE CROSSTHE CROSS as the Tree of Life

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY4B) A PRIESTLY FAMILY

A Community in Dialogue with God byPRAYER: as a family

- grace- morning, evening- Rosary

- Mass

PRAYER: for the family (petitions)- sick members- jobs- exams- tempted to leave the Church

SACRAMENTS: - bringing Christ- proclaiming Christ

GOD’S TASKS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY4C) THE KINGLY FAMILY

A Family Involved in Building God’s Kingdom of Love in the World by

- guarding, developing, and proclaiming the richness of God’s revelation of love

- obtaining and using the resource needed to do this as a family

- protecting the lives of the weakest members of the kingdom

- contributing to the common good of society

- promoting the rights of the family

session four

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