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Document Details : Title: Suche nach einer Spiritualität von Verheirateten im kirchlichen Dienst Author(s): SALADIN-LORETAN, Franziska Journal: Marriage, Families & Spirituality Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Date: Autumn 2000 Pages: 163-170 DOI: 10.2143/INT.6.2.2004578 Abstract : The Quest for a Spirituality for Married Persons Holding Office in the Church God gives life in fullness, and his promise applies to the lives of married persons too. Both spirituality and ecclesial office were for centuries moulded by celibacy. With the opening up of Church positions to lay persons new questions are raised: how are marriage and office in the Church to be united? In Church teaching there are still scarcely any statements about the connection between the sacrament of marriage and office-holding in the Church. Married persons holding office in the Church are required among other things to combine their public and private roles in their daily lives, to cope with irregular demands on their time and to practice what they preach in their own lives in marriage and family. On the other hand, familiarity with everyday human experiences gives a personal closeness to the pastoral calling. Fostering spirituality in Church office-holding means allowing one's life to be saturated by God's Spirit. In concrete terms this may include the following: - faithfulness to oneself, to one's partner and to a shared vision of life together; - regular Sabbath times; - practice of one's own faith in conversation and silence, in shared celebrations and prayers; - the sharing of joy and sorrow; - tenderness and sexuality as mutual gift and source of pleasure and joy; - friendships beyond the circle of church colleagues; - the capacity to be alone; - openness to social questions as a couple; - readiness for reconciliation, given that it is part of being human to err, even when our intentions are good. The presence of the everyday spirituality of married persons in her structures of office offers a real opportunity for the Church. |
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