Susan Heuver - Prayers for Catholic Couples: With Reflections from Pope Francis the Joy of Love

PRAYERS FOR

CATHOLIC COUPLES

With Reflections from Pope Francis The Joy of Love

Compiled and Edited by Susan Heuver

Copyright of excerpts from Amoris Laetitia

2017 Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Used with permission.

Compilation Copyright 2017

The Word Among Us Press

All rights reserved

Published by The Word Among Us Press

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Frederick, Maryland 21704

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ISBN: 978-1-59325-306-6

eISBN: 978-1-59325-491-9

Cover design by David Crosson

Photo courtesy of Anthony Amsberry

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author and publisher.

Made and printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016952988

Contents

Thinkstock Photos

Introduction

It is my hope that, in reading this text, all will feel called to love and cherish family life, for families are not a problem; they are first and foremost an opportunity.

POPE FRANCIS, AMORIS LAETITIA, 7

On April 8, 2016, Pope Francis released his long-awaited apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed the exhortation as a love letter to families inviting all of us to never stop growing in love. Amoris Laetitia is an exhortation in the purest sense; Pope Francis passionately urges families to renew their zeal and devotion to building marriages that both experience and reflect the love of Christ, which brings joy to families and joy to the Church.

As my husband and I read this letter, we immediately sensed the Holy Fathers compassion toward all families. Pope Francis writes from his heart and seems to base his comments on real conversations with real married couples, perhaps at the dinner table or in the confessional. These are not pious platitudes. On the contrary, his pastoral concern for married couples is palpable. In this beautiful letter, the Holy Father provides practical wisdom and encourages couples to recognize the beauty of married life and Gods comforting presence in their own imperfect families.

We especially found chapter 4, which focuses on 1 Corinthians 13, to be both inspiring and challenging, calling us to a more sacrificial love in our own marriage and parenting. As we have tried to see each other through the eyes of God, to lovingly accept each other as we are, and to repent and forgive each other often, we have grown closer to Christ and to one another. To our delight, even after twenty-seven happy years of marriage, we are experiencing even greater joy in our life together.

At 264 pages, The Joy of Love is a lengthy work. In writing Prayers for Catholic Couples, I hope to provide an accessible means for couples to read and meditate on Pope Francis message together and grow in their love for one another. He himself did not recommend a rushed reading of the text but intended, rather, that families read prayerfully and carefully, paying particular attention to those parts relevant to their specific needs (Amoris Laetitia, 7). This book is designed to be used by couples in exactly this way, one reflection at a time. Each two-page spread includes a brief quote from Amoris Laetitia, a reflection question, and a short prayer for the couple to say together. Couples should not feel as if they have to use the book in the order the chapters are presented. They can choose whichever reflection most speaks to their life at that moment.

All married couples experience stress at times. Although we know that we ought to seek Gods help especially during those times, many couples find it difficult to pray together. It can feel awkward to know where to begin or what to say. So experiment with how to pray together. You dont necessarily have to pray the entire reflection together. For example, you might want to use each reflection in this book in your personal prayer time first, journaling answers to the questions provided, and then come together later in the day to talk about your insights and pray the prayer together. Or you can come together after your personal reflection, join hands, and just pray spontaneously about your hopes and dreams for your marriage and family.

I hope that by using Prayers for Catholic Couples, married couples can begin or deepen their experience of family prayer. By spending even ten minutes with your spouse to seek Gods blessing for your family, lives can change, love can grow, and relationships can be transformed by Gods grace. I pray that you and your spouse will be encouraged and full of hope that God is present and working in your family, even in the midst of the very real stresses of family life.

Susan Heuver

The Life of Our Family

God Is Present in Our Messiness

A Gift and a Sign

This Exhortation represents an invitation to Christian families to value the gifts of marriage and the family, and to persevere in a love strengthened by the virtues of generosity, commitment, fidelity, and patience. [I]t seeks to encourage everyone to be a sign of mercy and closeness wherever family life remains imperfect or lacks peace and joy.

AMORIS LAETITIA, 5

Reflect

How much do you value the gift of marriage and family? How can you persevere in love? How can you be a sign of mercy to others?

Pray

Father of every family, I invite you into the messy imperfection of our family. Open our eyes to see signs of your closeness. Dispel any discouragement and increase our hope for the future. Use us, Lord, to bring your closeness to other families who are facing difficulties. Fill us with peace and joy as we persevere in our love for one another.

Families Are an Opportunity

It is my hope that, in reading this text, all will feel called to love and cherish family life, for families are not a problem; they are first and foremost an opportunity (Address at the Meeting with Families in Santiago de Cuba, September 22, 2015).

AMORIS LAETITIA, 7

Reflect

What about your family life do you cherish? Where do you need Gods grace to see your family as an opportunity and not as a problem?

Pray

Father, thank you for the joy that we experience through our family. Thank you for the blessings of love and laughter, of companionship and support. In those areas that we find difficult, send your grace. Help us to see our familys life together as a blessing and an opportunity, not as a problem or a trial.