Beatitudes for married couples

Who can judge God's plans? What is of prime importance for us all is to respond wisely to them and persevere in our loyalty to his call and never fail to study the signs of the times.

Pope John Paul II has been a genuine source of encouragement throughout his 26-year pontificate, and these past weeks of his hospitalisation in Rome. For sure he will go down in history for his three sound principles:

¤ the right to life;

¤ religious freedom; and

¤ the family as the centre of social order.

One very important statement on the immense value of the family was made at York when John Paul II was on a pastoral visit to England, and spoke on the subject of marriage. He very clearly encouraged those in power:

"Treasure your families. Protect their rights. Support the family by your laws and administration. Allow the voice of the family to be heard in the making of your policies. The future of your society, the future of humanity, passes by way of the family."

Indeed the Christian view of marriage as a life-long commitment of love between husband and wife in fact articulates the deepest, most genuine and authentic instincts of people in love.

As the late Cardinal Basil Hume said: "It is a profoundly moving experience. Their union, like that of their parents, like the overflowing goodness of God, is meant to be of its nature creative and fruitful. So, primarily because of their relationship to each other and because of the family to which they give birth, it is fundamental to the Christian view of marriage that the bond should be unbreakable."

Perhaps married couples would do pretty well to live faithfully to the 'Beatitudes' so vital to them in daily life:

Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving through all the days of their life together.

Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.

Blessed are the husband and wife who have a sense of humour, for this will be a handy shock absorber.

Blessed are they who love each other more than any person in the world and who joyfully fulfil their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity as husband and wife.

Blessed are they who thank God for their blessings, and who set aside some time each day for the reading of the Bible and prayer.

Blessed are they who never speak harshly to each other and who make their home a place of mutual encouragement and love.

Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems without interference from relatives.

Blessed are the husband and wife who dedicate their lives and their home to the advancement of Christ and his kingdom.