https://doi.org/10.25167/FF/5901
Matrimony and family are the center of God's salvific plan, inscribed in the nature of Man from the very moment of his creation. As an analysis of biblical texts shows, God established matrimony as a “deep communion of life and love” (cf. Gen. 2:24), which is a reflection of Christ's relationship with the Church (cf. Eph. 5:25-33). The purpose of this study is to present the magisterial teaching of the Church on matrimony and family understood in the perspective of God's plan of salvation. The immediate context of the conducted research is the message included in the 2015 Relatio synodi, which is a kind of synthesis of the post-conciliar magisterial teaching on the main problematic issue addressed in this article. In the course of the research conducted, first of all, the method of in-depth, multifaceted and critical analysis of the final document of the 2015 Synod of Bishops was applied, presenting the elements of the Church's magisterial teaching on matrimony and family in the perspective of God's plan of salvation included therein. The next step was to compare this message with the teaching included in the documents and statements of particular popes from Paul VI to Francis. This made it possible to develop fundamental research conclusions. Synthetically, they can be presented as follows:
1. The Church's teaching, from Second Vatican Council to 2015 Relatio Synodi, balances between faithfulness to inviolable principles and pastoral discernment regarding irregular situations.
2. Matrimony and family occupy a key place in God's plan of salvation, a fact that has been constantly emphasized in the post-conciliar teaching of the Magisterium Ecclesiae.
3. Traditional teaching has emphasized primarily the sacramental nature of matrimony as an institution that aims not only to unite two people, but also to open to life and raise children in the spirit of faith.
4. The Second Vatican Council, in the Gaudium et spes Constitution, highlighted the importance of family as the basic cell of society and the place where love and responsibility are fulfilled.
5. The post-conciliar teaching of the Magisterium Ecclesiae emphasizes that family, as a community of persons, has the task of evangelizing and being witness to Christ in everyday life. Contemporary challenges, such as the crisis of matrimonial identity and the diversity of forms of family life, require the Church to be more open and understanding, as reflected in the 2014 and 2015 synodal documents.
6. In the context of the 2015 Relatio synodi, it was underlined that family is the place where a person experiences God's love and becomes a witness to that love in the world.
7. In the context of God's plan of salvation, marriage and the family are not only the path to holiness, but also the environment in which the Church's mission of preaching of the Good News is realized.
8. Supporting families in their hardships and joys and promoting Christian values becomes a fundamental task for the Church.
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