VATICAN - “There is a need of families which are not misled by modern cultural currents inspired by hedonism and relativism, and instead are ready to live with generous dedication their mission in the Church and in society” Pope Benedict says at the XVI Angelus

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Liturgy of the 27th Sunday of the Year, 8 October, proposed Jesus’ teaching on matrimony and on this subject the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI dwelt in this midday reflection before the Angelus prayer with the people gathered in St Peter’s Square, the first in Rome after his Summer absence.
Starting from the Biblical narration of Creation, the Pope spoke of God’s original plan for matrimony recalled by Vatican II in the Constitution ‘Gaudium et spes’: " The intimate partnership of married life and love has been established by the Creator and qualified by His laws, and is rooted in the conjugal covenant of irrevocable personal consent.… For, God Himself is the author of matrimony" (n. 48).
“My thoughts go to all Christian married couples- the Pope said -: with them I thank the Lord for the gift of the Sacrament of Matrimony, I urge them to be faithful to their vocation at every season of life”, and he said he hoped they would build “a family open to life and able to face together the many and complex challenges of our times”. Pope Benedict XVI observed: “Today there is particular need of their witness. There is a need of families which are not misled by modern cultural currents inspired by hedonism and relativism, and instead are ready to live with generous dedication their mission in the Church and in society”.
Quoting the apostolic exhortation “Familiaris consortio” of John Paul II, the Pope recalled that "the sacrament of matrimony renders Christian spouses and parents witnesses to Christ ‘to the ends of the earth, authentic ‘missionaries’ of love and life" (cfr n. 54). This mission is directed to the family itself and outside the family: “the domestic community in fact is called to be a sign of God’s love for all men and women. This is a mission which the Christian family can only achieve if it is sustained by God’s grace”. Calling Christian spouses to pray incessantly and to persevere “in the daily effort to be faithful to promises made on the wedding day”, the Holy Father invoked the intercession of “Mary, the Queen of the Family”.
After the Angelus prayer the Pope greeted, 350 young "missionaries", from parishes, associations, movements and communities in the diocese of Rome accompanied by a priests and religious and seminarians, taking part in the third edition of "youth to youth mission", with the motto "Jesus in the Centre". “Dear friends - the Holy Father said -, I congratulate you for your joyful commitment to proclaiming the Gospel in streets and squares, in schools and hospitals, and in place where young Romans go for amusement. I encourage you to maintain this missionary way of life every day taking advantage of diocesan formative initiatives.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2006 - righe 33, parole 459)