Fundamental Christian Dimension of the Family

In the past several years, there were emerging issues that changed the landscape on how we
view marriage and its nature. The rapid social progression, such as the technological advancements and
the emergence of a more bureaucratic society, has weakened traditional values including moral and
religious beliefs. This greatly affected the basic structure and functions of marriage and family life due to
the growing neglect toward relationships within the homes. Particularly, the Filipino Family is trapped
between the forces of traditional living and modern lifestyle which introduced new sets of values and
new life-styles which brought a huge influence to the weakening of the life-long commitment in
marriage. This social change, sadly, is slowly, but not for long, crippling the stability of family life.

It is on this account that Unit 1 of Theology 2 shall discuss the Fundamental Christian
Dimensions of the Family and shed light on its importance and relevance in our times today. It will
expound on the meaning of marriage and the fruitfulness of family life that is blessed by God through
the sacrament of matrimony.

I. Fundamental Christian Dimensions of the Family

According to the document Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem
(11) of the Second Vatican Council, ―Since the Creator of all things has established the conjugal
partnership as the beginning and basis of human society, the family is the first and vital cell of society.‖
It is a mission received from God by the family. This mission commands that the family members should
love each other, pray together and make themselves a part of the liturgical worship of the Church. It is
also an ingredient of their apostolate as a family to volunteer in the catechetical work of the church,
assist in preparing those who are engaged to be married, give support to married couples and families
who experience material and moral crises, welcome strangers who need help.

Family is a social institution that binds people together. It is also a group of people, who
support, and love each other unconditionally. A family unites each other through a strong bond not only
through blood but through the intensification of their relationship as a family. Through marriage, a man
and a woman, who are completely independent of each other, bind themselves together and create a
new life, establishing their own family.

Having children is one of the most binding and satisfying tasks of marriage. The man and the
woman are given the responsibility to take care of their children, because the future of the Church and
the society depends on them. And whatever the parents inculcate in their children can be crucial in their
psychological, emotional and moral development. Parents must be concerned as to "how they can best
ensure that their children will grow up as genuine Christians and successful adults. Every family is
expected to build a future for their children that is optimistic, bright and full of hope. Some parents
may notice that their children are self-centered. If this is so, there might be a need to change the way
we relate to them so that their primary experience of relating will be as good and positive as possible.
Being an example ourselves is also crucial. Children may not always listen to what their parents say, but
they will observe what the parents do and hopefully emulate them. It is in the family where one
seek for help in times of trouble, pain or even joy and happiness. Whatever the hardships may be,
parents should always be there for their children because the first experience of security must also be
with the authorities children cling to with betrayal having no place in the family‘s abode and thus,
belongs to the realm outside the confines of one‘s home. The family should be the haven where spouses
and children find love, care and understanding.

FAMILY AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION

The family is the pillar of the society. It is the foundation of all social institutions and
interactions. Social progress also depends largely on how strong the families are because good values
such as kindness, generosity, honesty and the like are first practiced and witnessed in the family. Having
people practice these virtues will definitely yield good results especially in building a tolerant, fair, and
just society. But if parents themselves set a rather negative example to their children such as lying,
dishonesty and violation of rules, this supposed contribution of the parents to the society by raising
virtuous individuals will eventually be in vain. The children as they mature, with their enthusiasm,
creativity and optimism, have to be acknowledged of their potential involvement in nation building.
Parents must see to it that they are there to guide their kids in order to bring them up in the spirit of
Christian maturity. Therefore, if the family is dysfunctional and unhealthy, the whole society, we can
expect, will be dysfunctional and unhealthy as well. It would be hard to imagine one's life without a
family, because it is what builds our future, and it is the essence of the society.

The family is the primary unit where children learn to socialize. It is a major unit in which
socialization first happens and a fertile ground for individuals to be acquainted with fundamental
relational skills. It is in the family as well, that one receives support, love and guidance in times of
distress whether emotional, psychological, intellectual, social or even spiritual. The family, as the basic
unit of the society has the responsibility to pass on cultural and religious norms. And together with all
these, whether we like it or not, the family has the obligation to perform the initial education of children
with regard to sexuality and the conjugal act.

As the basic unit of the society, the family provides its members with social identity. This
identity sometimes is essential in finding opportunities in life. Every child comes from a particular social
class, race, ethnicity and religion. Some children, especially those born from affluent clans, have
advantages in life because their social class offers them opportunities which are not available to those
who have less in life. Children of the rich and famous are more likely to live in secure households, study
in prestigious universities, eat three times a day and would have the edge when they compete for their
careers in the future. Whereas, children whose parents come from below the poverty line are expected
to strive harder and prove themselves when they enter the society.

FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY

Since the family is considered as the foundation of the society, it performs several important
functions, such as:

1. Regulation of Sexuality

Sexual intercourse or the conjugal act in theological term is realized in a truly human way only if
it is an essential part of the love by which man and woman commit themselves totally to one another
until death. The Catholic Church considers extramarital sexual intercourse as unacceptable therefore,
sinful. No other forms of sexual pleasure should be allowed or accepted, but only that which is within
the genuine joy of love between man and woman who are married. The purpose of the conjugal act is to
express the mutual love and respect of husband and wife, and to deepen their intimacy. Its end is to
unite and procreate (Gen. 4:1-2). The Catholic Church teaches that sex within marriage is both a physical
and a spiritual act. It also teaches that the integrity of human sexuality and the procreative, relational
and erotic dimensions contained therein require the right context in which sexuality can be honored.
Thus, when talking about sex and the conjugal act, it must always be taken be a sacred and holy act.

In St. John Paul II‘s ―Theology of the Body‖ there is sexual complementarity between the
husband and the wife. It states that ―Husbands and wives, while equal in their dignity as persons, are
complementary in their sexuality. It is this complementarity that enables them to ―give‖ themselves to
one another and to ―receive‖ one another and to carry out responsibilities as spouses and parents.‖

The complementarity of ―giving‖ and ―receiving‖ must be freely done by the man and the
woman. First, they have to freely choose to ―give‖ themselves to one another and to ―receive‖ one
another. It is an act necessary as a means for attaining the ―good of the spouses‖, whereby husbands
and wives give themselves to one another and receive one another and they become ―one‖. From the
day they give and receive their consent in marriage, they freely give themselves a new identity as
husband and wife, spouses. Through this act of giving and receiving, they commit themselves to one
another throughout their entire married life. Second, is to freely choose to engage in the conjugal act.
This act unites two persons who are irreplaceable, non-substitutable, and non-disposable. It means that
the marital act is not simply a genital act, but an act of giving and receiving that honors the unitive
meaning of human sexuality. Third, is to freely choose to cooperate with God and be open to
procreation, welcoming life with open arms, raise the child and educate him/her in the love of service of
God and neighbor. Blessed Pope Paul VI expounded this in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, when he
wrote, ―because of its intrinsic nature, the conjugal act, while uniting husband and wife in the most
intimate of bonds, also makes them fit to bring forth new life according to the laws written in their very
nature as male and female‖.

2. Responsible Procreation

According to Familiaris Consortio ( No. 14) While procreation is not the only purpose of
marriage, it is one of the benefits that can result from marriage. In Genesis 1:28, procreation in marriage
is perceived as cooperation with the God of love and so must be exercised with responsibility, prudence,
and unselfishness. In begetting life, husband and wife fulfill one of the highest dimensions of the
Christian calling, which is to become God‘s co-worker and co-creator. As such, responsible cooperation
with God in the order of human sexuality cannot be reduced to the concept of fertility and
indiscriminate procreation of children at all cost. Every Catholic Institution has a great role to play in
helping Christians understand the Catholic Social Teaching about marriage. Marriage is a life-long
covenantal relationship between a man and a woman, characterized by human love, and open to
procreation (Can. 1055; Eph. 5:13). On this basis, the Church emphasizes a few points: First, is that
sexual love must be enjoyed within the Divine parameters. Second, spouses should look after one
another‘s well-being. Third, is that a couple must procreate when possible. Fourth, is that a couple who
procreate must fulfil their responsibility as parents.

In a nutshell, family is the core where Christian faith must grow and blossom and where parents
exercise their proper responsibility in caring for both the spiritual and physical needs of their children.
Therefore, Christian marriage must be grounded in Catholic faith and morals. Children are a gift that
God gives man and woman united in marriage.
 Church documents such as Gaudium et Spes (GS) and Blessed Pope Paul VI‘s 1968 encyclical
―On Human Life‖ (Humanae Vitae) introduce us to the concept of responsible procreation. The Catholic
Social Teaching emphasizes that parents, as co-creators with God, have the responsibility to decide on
the number of children they can care for as they cooperate with God in this noble task (1 Timothy 3:5).
Thus, the following three points need to be highlighted: First, while God commanded man and woman
to beget children and fill the earth (Gen. 1:28), God has also made parents responsible for the physical,
emotional, and spiritual needs of their children (1 Timothy 3:5). Second, parents are better able to meet
this responsibility when the number of children in a family is reasonable and manageable. Third, parents
should not reproduce carelessly—having many children yet failing to give those children the care they
deserve. As such, responsible procreation implies: Begetting children whose dignity will not be
respected is virtually a sin, regardless of whether the country‘s population is low or high. Fourth,
Catholic couples must discuss and make decisions together regarding the regulation of birth in the
family.

Married couples should follow their own proper path to holiness by faithful love. They should
plan for the conception and education of their offsprings, lovingly welcome them as God‘s gift. In this
way, they stand as witnesses and co-operators in the fruitfulness of the Holy Mother Church; by such
lives they are a sign and a participation in that very love with which Christ loved his bride and for which
he delivered himself up for her (GS. No. 41). On this basis, the Catholic Church calls for respect of God‘s
law when discussing procreation, parenthood, and population. Therefore, married couples should use
their power of reason to make appropriate decisions about questions such as how many children to
bear. When talking about family planning, it is every parent‘s responsibility to regulate human fertility in
a manner that will enable them to adequately respond to the needs and aspirations of their families and
children.

Human beings are made to be stewards of God‘s creation, which implies that men and women
have an obligation to take care of themselves and of the earth and its natural resources. Family size and
birth spacing affect a family‘s health and socioeconomic well-being in many and different ways. There is
a great need to promote Natural Family Planning (NFP) methods, especially stressing the advantages of
NFP over artificial methods.

And when given the great gift of being parents, part of the mission of stewardship is to educate
the children both intellectually and in the faith. It is important to educate young people about issues on
sexuality and family planning long before they marry so that they may cultivate an attitude of
responsible parenthood from an early age (remote preparation). The youth and those preparing for
marriage should be taught and given enough information about the following: A. The properties and
purposes of Christian marriage. B. The importance of responsible parenthood. C. The Church‘s
guidance on family planning. D. The linkages between population growth, family planning, and
development. E. Above all, Abstinence, Faithfulness, Love, Commitment, and Trust.

Young people should be encouraged to delay marriage and concentrate on studies and social
service during their adolescent years. Their early adulthood must be spent preparing for the vocation to
marriage in the event that God calls them to this path. By this, it will help them build a solid foundation
for marriage and parenthood, reduce the risk of health hazards connected to early pregnancy, and may
regulate the number of children they might want to have.

3. Socialization
 The family is the most common form of social organization. It is the first human society. It is at
the very heart of the common good. ―the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as
groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily‖ (Gaudium et Spes, 26).
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 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 (CCC 2207). In the Compendium of the Catholic Social Teachings, ―The family is the cradle
of life and love where they are born and grow (212), and every social model that intends to serve the
common good of man must not overlook the centrality and social responsibility of the family (214). No
family is possible without adequate socialization of the young members. The family provides its
members with social identity. It socializes children, and it provides emotional support. Love in
promoting moral values. The family has a crucial role in society by being a model of love for their
children, love between a husband and wife, and finally

4. Economic Cooperation

Population would decline should families decide to withdraw themselves from the society.
Families are important for goods and services. Most productions are geared toward families, especially
for their basic needs – food, clothing and shelter. If one belongs to a family, definitely, economic support
is necessary. The husband and the wife are expected to find decent livelihood in order to provide for
their children, not only in their material needs but also things that would enrich their emotional,
psychological, intellectual and spiritual yearnings. Thus, through economic cooperation, spouses learn
how to give themselves by sacrificing their time and effort by working industriously for the benefit of
their families. This action, though subtly, children are educated in the spirit of genuine self-giving,
sharing and responsibility. People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as
committed and responsible citizens. According to Pope Francis in ―The Joy of the Gospel‖ (220)
―responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation‖. James 2:15-
17 says that ―If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says
to them, ―Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,‖ but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it? So also faith itself, if it does not have works, is dead. We have to be reminded of the
saying that ―there is no one who is so poor, that he has nothing to give and no one is so rich that he
cannot receive‖. Thus, part of the responsibility of parents is to open their children‘s awareness on
social concerns and eventually encourage them to participate in charity works and political activities.

POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION OF FAMILY TO THE SOCIETY

The family, as the bedrock of society, must be a model of the loving relationship between
children and their parents. This role of being the paragon good relationship must edify the society at
large. The man as father should be a living model of patience and kindness. The husband-wife
relationship should likewise reflect the love of Jesus for His Church. The woman, on the other hand,
must portray the exemplar of being the refuge, comfort and teacher that children are entitled to have.
Through the love of the mother, the family is not only nourished but led to Christ even more through
her pious deeds. Spouses must love each other according to Christ‘s pattern of love which is kind,
patient, cherishing and nourishing each other. Their conjugal love is the greatest blessing that they could
have for each other. A love that is loyal, true and willing to sacrifice for each other and for the entire
family. According to Pope Benedict XVI, the love between a married couple can be fully understood in
the light of the love of the crucified Christ (Deus Caritas Est 2). Marriage becomes the image of the
relationship of God and his people. God‘s way of loving becomes the measure of human love (Deus
Caritas Est 11).

Marital fidelity is indispensable in cultivating respect. It is a commitment of one‘s whole life to

the spouse. A sign of true conjugal love is mutual respect which is one of the major keys to happiness in
marriage that must be given importance and emphasis. To put down one‘s spouse is to degrade him/her
as a person. Fidelity in marriage is also a key to happiness and central to the ―good of the spouses‖. The
greatest gift a father could give to his children is to love and be faithful to his wife. This may also be his
way of showing respect to his wife‘s dignity as a person and to the family as a whole.

The family should also impact the entire society through their positive examples. In this crucial
time where moral values are deteriorating, and with the destructive forces attacking families today, the
family must live according to the teachings of the Church and should take steps to ensure that laws and
institutions of the state are supporting and safeguarding the rights and duties of the family. According to
Familiaris Consortio: (FC 45) ―Both the state and society must defend the family and respect its identity
and its autonomy as a way of fulfilling the requirements of the principle of subsidiarity‖.

In the end, the family must promote marriage as sacred, which is exclusive for a man and a
woman as ordained by God in the story of creation. Parents must show love to their children by
spending quality time with them, educating them and see them mature to be good Christians so that
they can carry out the mission of Christ when their turn comes to pass on the gospel to their own
families.

FAMILY AS A DOMESTIC CHURCH

The family is an important gift that God has endowed man and the whole of humanity. It is a
community of grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church [1656] expounded on the importance of
family as a Church. In our own time, in a world often estranged and even hostile to faith, there is a
tendency to shatter our belief that families are of primary importance as centers of living, and involved
in the mission of Jesus Christ. The family is a place of encounter with Christ within the community
especially when members are actively participating in the mission of Christ entrusted to the Church. Its
members should involve themselves in different community programs that reach out to those who are
in need of care, whether material or spiritual (AL 86). That is why Church can be rightly called a family of
families.

For this reason, the Second Vatican Council, using ancient expression, calls the family the
“Ecclesia Domestica”. It is in the bosom of the family that parents are ―by word and example, the first
heralds of the faith with regard to their children. They should encourage them in the vocation which is
proper to each child, fostering with special care any religious vocation. It is called the domestic church
because it lives out the familial and communal nature of the church as the family of God. Every home is
called to become a ―domestic church‖ in which family life is completely centered on the Lordship of
Christ wherein the love of husband and wife mirrors the mystery of Christ‘s love for the church, his
bride. Families are expected to be effective bearers of the Gospel in their community. They should be
witnesses as domestic churches (AL 200).
 The Christian family participates in the threefold mission of Jesus Christ, the prophetic, priestly
and kingly mission. The family must be a believing and evangelizing community. Its members must
actively participate in the liturgical and sacramental celebration of the church. The members of the
family must become witnesses of Christ‘s love in their day to day life. They should be involved in the
mission of the Church. The parents can participate in the family ministry together with their children
who can also involved themselves in Youth ministry, practicing the gospel values. The family must be a
place where the Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates. They must be evangelized so
they can become evangelizers of many other families in their community. The strength of their
mission can be nourished and sustained by constant prayers to God, frequently receiving the Eucharist
and observance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The love within the family should be shared with others, reaching out to those who are in need.
The parents and their children must be the salt of the world and leaven in the midst of humanity.