{"id":5939,"date":"2014-04-02T10:12:00","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T10:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-francis-married-couples-are-an-icon-of-gods-love\/"},"modified":"2014-04-02T10:12:00","modified_gmt":"2014-04-02T10:12:00","slug":"pope-francis-married-couples-are-an-icon-of-gods-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2014\/04\/pope-francis-married-couples-are-an-icon-of-gods-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis: married couples are an icon of God’s love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Vatican City, Apr 2, 2014 \/ 04:12 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- In his weekly general audience Pope Francis closed his catechesis on the sacraments by reflecting on the vocation of marriage, noting that the marital couple is a unique example of divine love in the world.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cMarried couples carry out this vocation in a full and definitive communion of life. As \u2018one flesh,\u2019 they become living icons of God\u2019s love in our world, building up the Church in unity and fidelity,\u201d the Pope expressed in his April 2 general audience address.<\/p>\n

\tSpeaking to the thousands gathered in St. Peter\u2019s square to hear the weekly discourse, the pontiff announced that the day\u2019s reflections would close his catechesis on the sacraments as he turns to the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.<\/p>\n

\tIt is a sacrament, he observed, \u201cwhich brings us to the very heart of God\u2019s loving plan for the human family\u201d and \u201cintroduces us to the design of God, who created man in his image, capable of loving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Triune God created us \u2013 men and women \u2013 in his image and calls us to mirror the mystery of his love,\u201d the Pope continued, adding that \u201cmarried couples carry out this vocation in a full and definitive communion of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHighlighting how the vocation builds the Church in \u201cunity and fidelity,\u201d the pontiff explained that \u201cChristian marriage also reflects the mystery of Christ\u2019s own faithful and sacrificial love for his body, the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cChristian spouses thus receive a special consecration and a special mission: to manifest in simple and daily things the love of Christ for his Church, giving themselves in fidelity and service.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tNoting that although marriage is \u201ca noble vocation,\u201d Pope Francis also emphasized that it \u201cis not an easy one,\u201d and that \u201cit must constantly be strengthened by a living relationship with the Lord through prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThese prayers include \u201cmornings and evenings, at meals, in the recitation of the Rosary, and above all through the Sunday Eucharist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tConcluding his address, the Roman Pontiff asked those present to pray with him \u201cfor all families, especially those experiencing difficulties, so that by God\u2019s mercy they can always be joyful models of faith, love and generous service in our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAfter finishing his discourse, the Pope took a moment to acknowledge how April 2 marks the 9th anniversary of Bl. John Paul II\u2019s death, stating that the occasion \u201cdirects our thoughts to the day of his canonization, which we will celebrate at the end of the month.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cMay the waiting of this event be for us an occasion to prepare spiritually and to revive the patrimony of the faith that he left,\u201d he expressed.<\/p>\n

\tBy \u201c(i)mitating Christ he was for the world a tireless preacher of the Word of God, of the truth and of the good,\u201d the pontiff observed, noting that \u201cHe did good even with his suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThis was his life's teaching, to which the People of God responded with great love and esteem. His intercession strengthens in us faith, hope and love,\u201d the Pope reflected, adding that \u201cduring this preparation my apostolic blessing will accompany you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vatican City, Apr 2, 2014 \/ 04:12 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- In his weekly general audience Pope Francis closed his catechesis on the sacraments by reflecting on the vocation of marriage, noting that the marital couple is a unique example of divine love in t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\nPope Francis: married couples are an icon of God's love<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Apr 2, 2014 \/ 04:12 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- In his weekly general audience Pope Francis closed his catechesis on the sacraments by reflecting on the vocation of marriage, noting that the marital couple is a unique example of divine love in t...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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