We are all familiar with the words by which the couple affirm their love for each other: "I, N., take you, N., to be my wife (husband). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."
It is with this bond of marriage we have the basic cell in society and the beginning of a family, the first community. In this community they learn about the culture and traditional values and work together to solve their problems of food, clothing and shelter. However, this basic community is under great stress: divorce, violence in the home, gambling, dependence on alcohol, children running away from home, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law tensions, all making family life like children playing house.
Society is making the individual more important than the community of family. The roots are going down deeper in our society, sacrificing the family for the satisfaction of the individual, and selfish needs. The Church is hoping to have some answers to the problems the families are facing, in the October meeting of the synod on the family.
The words of our Lord: "Thus they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, let no man separate what God has joined" (Matt. 19:6). For many young people these words are an echo from an empty void and mean little. With the lack of restraint and patience we will continue to see divorces.
Divorces are not only problems for families, but for all of society. Important as it is to care for families who have divorced, more so to help families overcome their difficulties to prevent their break up. This will require educational programs in which the couples examine their values, the use of money, and objectively look upon sexual intimacy and its meaning, their spirituality and the way they see God's place in the family. Prayer should be an important part of family life.
Necessary is counseling for families that are having difficulties, and places of rest for those suffering violence in the family. There is a line from a pop song that the writer uses in the conclusion of the article: "In April we have the loving heart but when they separate it is winter."
Divorce shakes the foundations of society.Not only the couple, but the children and all of society is affected. We have the pain of loss. Pastoral work to help families overcome the difficulties and be with them, is important. We need programs that will help the couples overcome the differences and help them make the efforts necessary to keep the family together. The family is the place of salvation, and we should invest all this is needed to help families.
