Sep 24 Wed
Is there a vocation to marriage?
Our Lord has wanted the universal call to holiness to resound with renewed strength in the ears of all Christians. By the Church, thus, through Opus Dei, He makes it clear that all states and upright situations in life are suitable for seeking and finding God. And for those who are called to marriage, their path as well is truly a DIVINE VOCATION.
St. Josemaría wrote: Since most of my children are married, their conjugal love and duties form part of their divine vocation. Opus Dei has been responsible for marriage being considered a divine path, a vocation… How frequently I have seen a couple's eyes light up when, thinking that their noble and clean love was incompatible with dedication to God, they heard me say that "marriage is a divine path on earth!"
We are not afraid of human love, of our parents' holy love, which God utilized to give us life. I bless this love with both hands. I don't allow any of my children to fail to have a great love for the holy sacrament of matrimony. Therefore, we aren't afraid to sing songs about clean, human love, which are ballads of divine love as well.
I ask you to love one another. Always have the eager love you had when you were first engaged. It would be a poor concept of marriage, which is an ideal and a vocation, to think that the joy is over when the difficulties and hard times that life brings begin.
Then is when love is strengthened, when it becomes stronger than death. Suffering and setbacks can never extinguish true love. For sacrifice shared with generosity unites you even more.
Ordinarily, your marriage will be very fruitful. And if God doesn't grant you children, you will dedicate your energies more intensely to the apostolic work, which will bring you a splendid spiritual fruitfulness. Our Lord usually crowns Christian families with children. Always receive them with joy and thanksgiving, because they are God's gift and blessing and a proof of his confidence in you.
The Archbishop of Santiago of Chile shared seven pieces of advice for young couples:
1. Understand life as a gift called to become a gift for others.
2. Your neighbor's garden is not greener than yours. Always be grateful for your own garden with all the good and not-so-good fruits it gives.
3. Live by your principles and according to your faith; otherwise, you will end up modifying your principles according to how you live.
4. Facing difficulties, ask yourself, What would Christ do in my place?
5. Remember that it is impossible to achieve happiness apart from the truth about the commitment you have made.
6. I have met many people who regret not having more children. I have never met anyone who regretted having given too many children to society, to the family, and to the Church.
7. The important things in life happen in humble settings and not in sumptuous ones that dazzle.