"I am spiritually present and take part in the recital of this Marian prayer dedicated to the family, which is uniting grandparents, parents and children in the transmission of the faith. This does so much good for the renewal of our ecclesial conscience and the 'small domestic churches' that are too often challenged by the spirit of individualism and selfishness contrary to the loving and unifying action of the Holy Spirit." The Prefect of the Congregation for the Laity, the Family and Life, Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell, addressed these words to the participants of the 9th National Pilgrimage of Families for the Family, in the context of the 26th National Eucharistic Congress of Genova.
From Dallas, the Prefect sent a greeting recalling Pope Francis' words, in the Post-Synodal Exhortation "Amoris Laetitia," about the ability of families to "bear witness, in a credible way, to the beauty of marriage as indissoluble and perpetually faithful. Within the family—he writes—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."
"You now want to bear witness—he continued—to this fundamental truth; and, so, this Pilgrimage also becomes a beautiful and effective response to the appeal that Pope Francis addresses to us: 'The various expressions of popular piety are a treasure of spirituality for many families. The family’s communal journey of prayer culminates by sharing together in the Eucharist'."
Bishop Farrell concluded his greeting by entrusting to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary "all the families present and those unable to participate, especially the poorest and most afflicted, so that they may obtain abundant graces from the Father of all mercy."
Saluto (ITA)
