July 24.   Miriam and the other members of the St Anne’s sodality always had a great time celebrating their feastday.   One year after a marriage enrichment programme  Portia suggested that as they were a sodality for married women they should also do something to involve the husbands.  “But so many of us are widows,” Adelaide said.  “That is true but do you not have experiences and memories of your marriage that have  influenced how you understand a covenant and your relationship with God and others?” Portia answered.  “That is what we mean when we talk about contextual theology and spirituality. And don’t forget either that not all of us are ‘old grannies.’”   

Moses took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do and we will be obedient. And Moses took the blood of the sacrificed animals and threw it upon the people saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you.  Exodus 24:3-8     

Pope Francis: In the course of every marriage physical appearances change but we love the other person for who they are, not simply for their body. A spouse continues to see with the eyes of love and so his or her affection does not diminish and he or she reaffirms the decision to belong with faithful and loving closeness. AL 164.     Many families show us that it is possible to approach the last stages of life by emphasizing the importance of a person’s sense of fulfilment and participation in the Lord’s paschal mystery.  AL48