Marriage, Family and the Church

A Boat with New Nets

Inspired by the author's experience as a peritus (expert adviser and consultant) at the 2015 Synod on the Family, this book traces the ongoing story of marriage, family and the Church in light of Pope Francis' assertion that 'families are one of the most important nets for the mission of Peter and of the Church.' Without ignoring the difficulties of marriage and family life, Pia Matthews shows how through the ages the Church has constantly accompanied couples in their vocation to marriage, a vocation to holiness and to evangelisation. This accompaniment is marked by the vision of the Church, ready to rescue those who struggle. The story of marriage touches on major themes-from the spiritual life of grace to the history of moral theology and the development of tradition; it begins with Jesus, follows Jesus and ends with Jesus. Marriage matters because it says something significant about us as human beings, about us as Christians in the world, and about us in relationship with God and his Church.