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  La Exhortación Apostólica del Papa Francisco, que fue el resultado de un trabajo colegiado de los últimos dos años, reúne muchos de los temas que son especialmente importantes para las mujeres dentro y fuera de la Iglesia. Aporta una perspectiva novedosa, cercana y realista de la realidad que ellas viven. En un estilo casi parroquial, el Papa confiere a la parte humana y particular de cada vida un lugar muy importante y propone un modo igual de cercano e incluyente para mejorar la situación de las familias, y por ende, de las mujeres. Las situaciones familiares realista que trata y deshebra dejan ver la complejidad de las dinámicas familiares: violencia, madres solteras, inequidades, madres trabajadoras, abuso, viudas,   mujeres separadas, abandono, mujeres divorciadas y vueltas a casar. Además trata temas esenciales para las mujeres: educación de los hijos, preparación como pareja en el noviazgo y en las diferentes etapas de la vida, educación sexual, homosexual...

En este día de la madre hemos encontrado buenas noticias envueltas para regalo para las madres del mundo. Estas vienen, por un lado desde la ONU donde recientemente se dieron a conocer los “Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible para el 2030”, y el otro la “Exhortación Apostólica Amoris Laetitia” del Papa Francisco y la Iglesia Católica. Dos documentos que tratan, en su propia zona de acción, de impulsar a los hombres a construir un mundo mejor. ¿Qué madre no quiere lo mejor para sus hijos y trabaja por ello todos los días? Estos dos documentos tratan de atacar los males que afectan a tantas personas y de lograr mejores condiciones para las futuras generaciones, de las que tanto se preocupan todas las madres, pero lo hacen de modos totalmente diferentes y, a veces, hasta contrastantes.

La tan esperada Exhortación sobre la familia y el matrimonio del Papa Francisco es un documento que revela no solo la profundidad y necesidad de la reflexión sobre esta realidad humana que tanta discusiones ha provocado en las últimas décadas, sino también la centralidad   con que la Iglesia considera y trata a   esta célula por su importancia en la vida de la humanidad, de la Iglesia misma, y lo más importante, en la vida de cada uno de nosotros. A muchos puede parecer que en   esta exhortación es el Papa que solo reacciona para condenar, imponer o limitar sobre el matrimonio y la familia, y solo porque ha sido objeto de manipulación cultural en nuestro tiempo. Pero la realidad es que la familia y su problemática ha estado presente en la historia de la Salvación desde el Antiguo y después en el Nuevo Testamento, donde la misma   Sagrada Familia fue pobre, con un embarazo inesperado, desalojada, trabajadora, perseguida, e inclusive migrante.

The Marriage at Cana ,Marten de Vos, 1596-97 Gospel Luke 12:49-53 ( NRVS, Catholic Ed , Can) Jesus said to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” About 40 years ago when I had some programs on DXDD, a radio station in Ozamiz City, Mindanao, started by a Columban priest, Fr Charles Nolan, and now owned by the Archdiocese of Ozamiz, two friends of mine brought in a boy of about three whom they had found wandering at night. I appealed on the air for ...

The Two Trinities , Murillo, 1675-82 John 16:12-15 ( NRSV, Catholic Ed ., Can.) Jesus said to his disciples: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. During my kinder, primary and secondary school years, 1947 to 1961, my brother and I had breakfast and dinner - a midday meal in Ireland in those days - with our mother. In the evening we had 'tea', as that lighter meal was known in some English-speaking countries. My father had his dinner and tea combined, the four of us together. I often heard my mother 'complain' about having to prepare two meals for my fat...

Something I found on page 59 of "Amoris Laetitia" 1 is an example of why I love being Catholic — common sense, drawing on the Church's experience and wisdom, developed by dealing with people for two millennia. Some folks have been having conniptions over the encyclical: some because the Pope won't redefine marriage to suit their preferences; others, I suspect, for his failure to heap abuse on couples in " 'irregular' situations." Instead of denouncing them as loathsome sinners who should be cast into the outer darkness, Pope Francis actually talks about "...offering them assistance so they can reach the fullness of God's plan for them...." (" Amoris Laetitia ," page 227) More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The Good Shepherd by Jean Baptiste de Champaigne I’m going a bit off topic today to give you my thoughts on the recent apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Some traditionalists are up in arms, some “liberals” are dancing with glee. What did Pope Francis really say, how important was it, and what does it mean for you and me? No change in doctrine or discipline The first and most important thing to understand is that AL (as it is being called for short) does not propose changes to Catholic discipline on who can receive the Eucharist, let alone a change in the doctrine behind this practice. “I was happy to take up the request of the Fathers of the Synod to write this Exhortation. In so doing, I am reaping the rich fruits of the Synod’s labours. In addition, I have sought advice from a number of people and I intend to express my own concerns about this particular chapter of the Church’s work of evangelization..." Continue reading at Contemplative Homeschool.

I’ve had time to skim   The Joy of Love  (Amoris Laetitia)   by Pope Francis. It bears closer reading, and I’ll get there eventually. For now, it evokes words that had a profound effect on my life – words uttered a decade before Pope Francis even became a priest, and a year before I was born. The pope’s recent message reinforced the Catholic Church’s recognition of the truth about the dignity and indissolubility of marriage. At the same time, he urged readers to build bridges of mercy and patience and acceptance for other people as they are, where they are. Can one be “accepting” of people in unsanctioned unions, without compromising on truth? Let me tell you my family’s story, and you’ll know why I say yes. Read the rest of the post at ellenkolb.com.