This Mystery Is a Profound One
The Slovenian artist Fr Marko Ivan Rupnik, SJ, is the author of the official image of the World Meeting of Families in Rome, presented at the Vatican. The World Meeting of Families, to be held in Rome from 22 to 26 June 2022 under the theme "Family Love: Vocation and Path to Holiness", will also conclude the Amoris Laetitia Family Year. The meeting was originally due to take place this year, but because of the coronavirus pandemic it has been postponed to 2022. The image "This Mystery Is a Profound One", measuring 80×80 cm, in bright and warm colours – yellow, orange and red – depicts the biblical scene of the wedding at Cana, and, in the artist's own words, seeks to convey that the family is an expression of the sacrament of marriage. He teaches at the Gregorian University in Rome. Until last year, he directed the "Aletti" Centre for spirituality and culture, and his mosaics and sacred works adorn more than 220 places around the world. He gives spiritual retreats and is also a consultant to several Roman congregations.
We bring you the catechesis of the artist himself on the mystery of marriage and family from a Christian perspective, through the "Wedding at Cana", and also on how the artist himself sees it.
Watch the video!
Turn on the Croatian subtitles!
The Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Joseph Kevin Farrell, pointed out that "prayer is a way of penetrating to the very heart of the Amoris Laetitia Year, which will conclude with the World Meeting of Families next year.
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, likewise stated that prayer would be at the very centre of the preparation for the meeting of families. "It will guide our work and inspire our reflections, so that in the light of faith we may recognise the new challenges the pandemic poses for church communities where the family is concerned." For this reason, he invites all families to pray this prayer in their homes and parish communities as a preparation for the meeting.
The prayer is inspired by the theme of the meeting, "Family Love: Vocation and Path to Holiness". In it, the Lord is asked to bless all families, so that, as small domestic Churches, they may always bear witness to his presence. It also prays for all families who suffer, for children and young people, and for parents, grandmothers and grandfathers.
We bring you the prayer for the meeting in English:
Family Love: Vocation and Path to Holiness
Heavenly Father,
We come before You to praise You
and to thank You for the great gift of the family.
We pray to You for all families
consecrated by the Sacrament of Matrimony.
May they rediscover each day
the grace they have received,
and as small domestic Churches,
may they know how to witness to Your presence
and to the love with which Christ loves the Church.
We pray to You for all families faced with difficulty and suffering
caused by illness or circumstances of which only You know.
Sustain them and make them aware
of the path to holiness upon which You call them,
so that they might experience Your infinite mercy
and find new ways to grow in love.
We pray to You for children and young people:
may they encounter You and respond joyfully
to the vocation You have in mind for them;
We pray for parents and grandparents: may they be aware
that they are signs of the fatherhood and motherhood of God
in caring for the children who, in body and spirit, You entrust to them;
and for the experience of fraternity
that the family can give to the world.
Lord, grant that each family
might live their specific vocation to holiness in the Church
as a call to become missionary disciples,
in the service of life and peace,
in communion with our priests, religious,
and all vocations in the Church.
Bless the World Meeting of Families.
Amen.
Official prayer for the X World Meeting of Families
22-26 June 2022
- Mladen Klanac
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