Teaching

The family is the original cell of social life. It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. Authority, stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society. 

The family must be helped and defended by appropriate social measures. Where families cannot fulfill their responsibilities, other social bodies have the duty of helping them and of supporting the institution of the family. Following the principle of subsidiarity, larger communities should take care not to usurp the family’s prerogatives or interfere in its life.  Catechism of the Catholic Church, Compendium, 2207, 2209

Learn

Thanksgiving and Families: Listen to Jason Kidd (Marriage and Family Life) and Matt Cato (Life, Justice & Peace) on KBVM.

Educate Your Parish

• We Are Family
• Saint Jerome Emiliani (February 8): Patron Saint of Abandoned Children and Orphans
• Saint Valentine (February 14): Patron Saint of Love and Happy Marriages
• Saint Joseph (March 19): Patron Saint of Families
• All in the Family
• Let Children Be Children

USCCB

• USCCB: Marriage: United in Love, Strengthened for Service
• USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth
• USCCB: For Your Marriage

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

• Office of Marriage and Family Life
• Marriage: a Natural and Supernatural Gift
• El Matrimonio: don natural y sobrenatural