Familiaris Consortio, Part III: The Role of the Christian Family

Part III: The Role of the Christian Family 
A. This third part discusses the mission of the family.
 1. As a miniature mystical person of Christ, the family must realize itself and know itself in and through its proper acts. It must become what it is, a domestic church, through its proper acts.
2. The acts of the family, i.e., the mission of the family, correspond to the mission of the Church.
B. The first division considers the building of the communion of persons in the family.
 1. The familial communion of persons is based on love, the mutual self-donation of all the family members to one another.
 2. Grace, especially that given through the sacrament of Matrimony, makes this self-donation possible.
 3. A marital union must be exclusive. Thus, polygamy contradicts the familial communion of persons.
 4. The marital union is total and therefore indissoluble.
 5. All members of the family are called to live in love with the other family members.
  a. The Pope discusses the role of women in the family.
  b. He also discusses men.
  c. He treats the children.
  d. He concludes with some remarks on the elderly.
C. The second division of Part III discusses the family's obligation to serve life.
 1. The Pope divides this topic into two areas.
  a. The first is the transmission of life.
  b. The second is the education of the children.
 2. The power of transmitting life is an extraordinary gift. Men and women are called to share in the divine love, which is always fruitful.
  a. The Church teaches that the love of spouses must always be open to the transmission of life.
  b. The Church stands for life and supports life against all those who would attack it.
  c. The magisterium asks theologians to explain the teachings of the Church regarding life.
  d. Contraception is not accepted because sexuality is separated from the person.
  e. The Second Vatican Council affirmed the teaching of the Church against contraception as did Pope Paul VI.
  f. Contraception is a manipulation and degradation of human sexuality. The couples who practice it are living a lie.
  g. There is no contradiction between love and morality.
  h. Fertility awareness is unequivocally recommended and encouraged.
  i. All people must always strive to live according to the moral norms. They will grow in holiness and as they grow in holiness, they will find it easier to follow the moral precepts.
  j. All those who investigate the fertility cycle are commended, thanked, and urged to continue.