PASTORAL LETTER 2010
been a considerable increase of evil; many young people have fallen victims to it. Peer pressure has made many of them unwitting slaves to pornography, drugs, alcohol and other vices. Not a few young people have laid a heavy burden on their parents by their craze for the latest fashion and gadgetry as well as by falling prey to earning quick money through anti-Christian conduct.16 If we are young, let us try, while living in this world, to kindle in our hearts longings for heavenly treasures; if adults, let us help the young to walk through the path of Christian values.
2.4 Joseph Vaz, a Healer of Families Falling Apart
The parents of Joseph Vaz had a sound mutual relationship; they kept the holiness of the Sacrament of Marriage by their mutual love, respect and faithfulness.17 Joseph Vaz was inspired in this exemplary family of his parents to offer his priestly services to other families. To the families being ruined by alcoholism he showed the right path of life; he worked hard to reawaken families living a bad life to sound Christian values. Knocking incessantly at the doors of the families who had turned their back on Christian values and were living in immorality, he won them over to Christ. Couples generating offspring out of wedlock were joined by him in the Sacrament of Marriage. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he led them to obtain the forgiveness of their sins. He released children who had been sold as slaves by poor parents and thus, through his life and ministry, he healed countless wounded families.18
The New Testament reveals how important the union between the husband and wife is (Mt 5:31-32; Eph 5:21). The Church teaches that this relationship is a sign of the true relationship existing between Christ and His Church. Christian Marriage and
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16 Cf. SDS, no. 65.
17 Cf. Costa, Life, p. 11.
18 Cf. Ibid., p. 23.
Golden Verse
Proverbs 26:9
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.