'Marriage is beautiful, must be protected,' Pope tells weekly audience
April 02, 2014
In sacramental marriage, Pope Francis told his weekly audience on April 2, a man and woman are “invested invested with a genuine mission, that of making visible, starting with simple and ordinary things, the love Christ has for His Church.”
“Married life is beautiful, and must be protected,” the Pope told his Wednesday audience. Observing that “God is communion,” existing in the Trinity, the Pope said that the sacramental union of husband and wife becomes a single entity, reflecting God and his love. “The image of God is a married couple, man and woman-- not only man, not only woman, but rather both. This is the image of God: love, God's alliance with us is represented in the alliance between man and woman.”
Recognizing the difficulties and tensions that occur in any married life, the Pope said that prayer is a key to maintaining a strong union. The secret to success, he said, is “that love is stronger than the moments when we argue.” He advised married couples to be sure that they always reconcile, after a dispute, before the day ends. “There is no need to call in UN peacekeepers,” he said; instead he recommended a “little gesture” and a pledge to start afresh.
The Pope’s reflection on marriage was the last in a series of weekly talks on the sacraments.
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Further information:
- Audience: Marriage, the heart of God’s loving plan for humanity (Vatican Radio)
- The Sacrament of Marriage, Icon of God's Love for Humanity (VIS)
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