June 23.  World Meeting of Families.  Conference 2.   Theme: Family love in times of difficulty.

Amy was shattered when she discovered that her husband, after 15 years of a difficult and sometimes abusive marriage, had been unfaithful to her since they had moved from their rural village to a house in town.  Having borne a variety of hardships over the years, even many arguments over family planning, she was very bitter at this further betrayal and at first refused to speak to him. She just wanted him out of the house and out of her life. “I’ve had more than enough,” she told her friend Violet, who was a marriage counsellor.  “What about the children?” Violet asked, “is this the best for them?” Violet encouraged Amy and her husband to participate in the Retrouvaille hurting marriage programme she knew about. They agreed to go and it was not an easy journey but they had talked and listened and come to realise how they had each contributed to the breakdown, also in adjusting to the new environment. Amy later shared with Violet, “your wisdom and faith and our own faith helped us to reconcile and rebuild our relationship. I knew there was still something there, and  this has been particularly good for the children.”  

Reflect, share and act.  Scripture.  Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. Matt 7:21-29.  Pope Francis:  If a family is centred on Christ he will unify and illumine its entire life.   Moments of pain and difficulty will be experienced in union with the Lord’s cross. AL317.   With inner joy and deep comfort, the Church looks to the families who remain faithful to the teachings of the Gospel, encouraging them and thanking them for the testimony they offer. For they bear witness, in a credible way, to the beauty of marriage as indissoluble and perpetually faithful». AL 86. From Conference 2.