VATICAN (CNS): In a video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network on June 1, Pope Francis said that while uncertainty in the world may deter young couples from taking the next big step in their relationships, the vocational call to marriage is a risk worth taking as he offered his prayer intention for the month of June, which he dedicated to “the beauty of marriage.”
Marriage “is a challenging journey, at times difficult, sometimes even confrontational, but it is worth the risk,” said, adding, “In this lifelong journey, the husband and wife are not alone: Jesus accompanies them.”
Acknowledging the belief that young people “do not want to get married, especially in these difficult times,” the pope said that marriage and sharing one’s life “is a beautiful thing.”
The pope said, “Marriage is not just a ‘social’ act. It is a vocation that is born from the heart, it is a conscious lifelong decision that requires a specific preparation.”
He said, “Please, never forget! God has a dream for us—love—and he asks us to make it our own.”
The pope prayed for “young people preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community, so that they may grow in love, generosity, faithfulness and patience.”
