Teachings on Love and Marriage
"Those Who Leap into Union Gain Everything"
"Through marriage, you gain everything and life becomes complete."
The New York Times (NYT) reported on April 28 (local time) that one of the final manuscripts left by Pope Francis before his passing contained a doctrinal explanation about marriage.
According to the NYT, the preface titled "On Tango and Enduring Marriage" included the Pope's teachings on love and marriage. This preface is set to be published in the Catholic youth catechism (YOUCAT).
Pope greeting guests by raising his hand after arriving at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on August 14, 2014. Photo by Yonhap News
Pope Francis likened marriage to the beauty of tango that he experienced in his youth in his home country of Argentina. He described tango as "a marvelous and free game in which a man and a woman experience courtship, closeness and distance, sensuality, attention, discipline, and dignity." The Pope said, "When dancing tango, the man and woman rejoice in love and come to understand what it means to give themselves completely to another," adding, "Perhaps it is because of my long-standing memories of tango that I titled my papal exhortation on marriage 'The Joy of Love' (Amoris Laetitia)."
He also acknowledged the practical difficulties of marriage. The Pope said, "I am always moved when young people love each other and have the courage to transform that love into something greater," and added, "I cannot fathom how remarkable the promise to love 'until death do us part' truly is." However, he continued, "Of course, just as neither I nor you are blind to reality, we know how often marriages today end in failure after three, five, or seven years," and added, "Perhaps your parents, too, began their marriage with the same courage, but their love may not have reached its fulfillment."
Pope Francis emphasized the importance of believing in the value of marriage, which completes love and life. The Pope said, "Believe that you are capable of love, of God, and of the adventure of lifelong love." He continued, "There is a desire within us humans to be accepted without a moment’s hesitation," and explained, "Those who have never had such an experience unconsciously carry wounds throughout their lives, but those who leap into union lose nothing and gain everything, and this is the most complete state of life."
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