The Apostolic Exhortation on the Family

"Familiaris Consortio" - Twenty Years Later 

In 1981, Pope John Paul II was in the third year of his papacy - still a newcomer by today's standard.  The 1980 international Synod on the Family had recently been completed.  As a follow-up to the Synod, john Paul wrote an Apostolic Exhortation on the Family, in Latin, Familiaris Consortio.  It has become one of the landmark teachings on the family in modern times.

2000 marked the 20th anniversary of Familiaris Consortio.  It was commemorated with a symposium for church leaders sponsored by the Committee on Marriage and Family Life and the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, from August 15-18, in our nation's capital.  The symposium was titled "Marriage and Family Life, Enduring Truths: Changing Realities."  On this 20th anniversary of such a significant document, it might be worthwhile to take another look and rediscover some of the key issues that lie there. 

An important underlying concept put forth by John Paul II is that evangelization is primarily the task of the family.  "The Christian family, in fact, is the first community called to announce the Gospel to the human person during growth and to bring him or her through a progressive education and catechesis, to full human and Christian maturity." (2) This statement has far-reaching implications for the family throughout the various stages of growth and development. 

The theology of covenant with regard to marriage and family that reflects the fidelity between Christ and his church is beautifully developed.  "Love is therefore the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being." (11) John Paul develops a rich theology of the body and prizes sexuality as the ultimate self-giving, a self-giving which goes beyond the biological and envelopes the whole human person.  In truth, such self-giving is made possible only in marriage, which is seen as the covenant of conjugal love freely and consciously chosen.

The Holy Father goes on to tell families to "become what you are." (17) And he develops the four tasks of the family that were emphasized by the Synod mentioned earlier.  Each of these tasks are richly developed, contributing to the overall visions of family life as put forth by the Holy Father:

• Forming a community of persons
• Participating in the development of society
• Serving life
• Sharing in the mission of the Church 

It is the conclusion to the pastoral letter that the Holy Father penned those often quoted words: "The future of humanity passes by way of the family."(86). Hence, parishes are urged to make family ministry a high priority.  Family ministry includes ministry to and with families.  It involves the church developing a family perspective in all aspects of ministry as well as affirming the ministry that happens in families and among families.  All of these observations about the family, its mission, its role, its value, its struggles and strengths are envisioned within the domestic church or church of the home.  John Paul has picked up on this concept that was so prevalent in the early Church and revived by the Second Vatican Council.  Thus the family is rightly seen as the place where the faith is first experienced and passed on from one generation to another.  As we reflect on this landmark document and come to a deeper appreciation of the gift John Paul II gave to the Church and to families early in his pontificate. 

Twenty years later, the need is greater than ever in our Church and society for the words of John Paul II to become a lived reality.  Each of us must find a way to bring to life the words of this Apostolic Exhortation on the Family. 

(A reflection on the symposium and the Apostolic Exhortation by Anne Keough, Director of the Office of Adult & Family Ministry.)