Overview: Marriage & Family Life

Christ chose to be born and grow up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and Mary.. The Church is nothing other than "the family of God." From the beginning, the core of the Church was often constituted by those who had become believers "together with all [their] household." When they were converted, they desired that "their whole household" should also be saved. These families who became believers were islands of Christian life in an unbelieving world.In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centres of living, radiant faith. For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the ecclesia domestica (domestic church). It is in the bosom of the family that parents are "by word and example . . . the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children. They should encourage them in the vocation which is proper to each child, fostering with special care any religious vocation.” It is here that the father, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way "by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity." Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment." Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous - even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life. We must also remember the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live - often not of their choosing - are especially close to Jesus' heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors. Many remain without a human family often due to conditions of poverty. Some live their situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbour in exemplary fashion. the doors of homes, the "domestic churches," and of the great family which is the Church must be open to all of them. "No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who 'labour and are heavy laden.'"(Catechism of the Catholic Church)More Information: 

• COLF (Catholic Organization for Life and Family): A Threatened Solidarity and Parents, will your children be happy?
• COLF has issued a new message to families on work, entitled “work + love = holiness!”  As the world progressively overcomes a serious economic crisis, the Catholic Organization for Life and Family offers an important reflection on the grandeur and dignity of work. Go to www.colf.ca to download a pdf copy or to order printed copies.
• Catholic Organization for Life and Family (co-founded by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus.) http://www.colf.ca 
• Marriage in Canada: CCCB and COLF statements, briefs, comments and other backgrounders.
• Catholic Organization for Life and Family,   2500 Don Reid Drive, Ottawa, ON K2J 2W5,  Tel: 613-241-9461 ext. 161 Fax: 613-241-9461 
  Email or Web: www.colf.ca