Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - "Our homeland is in heaven" is the title of a Message issued by the Spanish Bishops' Commission for the Family and Life in view of the Pro-Life and Family Day on 30 December.
The Bishops explain the theme "we are children of God and citizens of heaven. We wish to encourage families, remind them of the greatness and dignity. We live immersed in a complex society with a marked secular culture which aims to organise social life as if God did not exist... we see a weakening of Christian identity which affects also the family". The Bishops stress the need to help families recognise two important aspects of their identity. The first is integration of faith and life. "Faith - they say - is not something private, outside family life" it must penetrate the life of every individual and every family. The second aspect is “insertion in the church community, since a Christian family cannot stay in the margins of the Church life".
"Only a Christian family with a strong identity can hand on the faith in these difficult times and be a shining sign of truth, goodness and beauty of marriage and the family" the Bishops affirm.
Among the principal means for families to strengthen their identity, the Bishops recall Christian initiation: to have Christian marriages and families it is necessary to provide Christian formation. “The Church must tackle the pastoral issue at the root, intensifying religious formation by means of Christian initiation”. Christian families must bring up children as citizens of heaven. The Bishops recall the difficulty in Spain where in schools the government has imposed "Education to Citizenship" lessons, which for the Bishops are "unacceptable in form and significance”. They urge parents to use every legitimate means to defend their right to choose the moral education of their children.
The Bishops conclude encouraging Catholics to contemplate the mystery of God made man, to strengthen their Christian identity and live life on earth looking forward to true life in heaven . The archdiocese of Madrid has invited parishes, church movements, groups and individuals to take part in a Pro-life and pro-Family Day on 30 December at midday in Plaza de Colón which the Pope will address via a televised message from Rome. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/12/2007; righe 35, parole 478)
