I just finished reading Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on the family.  At the beginning the Holy Father said not to read it quickly.  Since I have read it quickly, I offer a few more ideas rather than a thoughtful analysis.

     I encourage everyone to read The Joy of Love for yourselves.  You can read the whole thing more slowly than I did in order to reflect more deeply upon many wonderful and/or challenging passages.  If you have never read a papal document, then you might benefit by going to the Table of Contents / Index on pages 257-261.  Many of the different sections stand on their own.  Try reading a section that appeals to you.  Those preparing for marriage, for example, would find chapters 4 & 5 on St. Paul's passage of love most inspiring.  If you're interested in praying with your family, try the last chapter.

     I read most of The Joy of Love while sitting near my father at Community Medical Center.  We usually do one hospital run a year.  We're still trying to figure out a few things.  Your prayers would be appreciated.  I found it interesting and reassuring when I read those passages about care for the elderly.

     So many of the passages about family, I could apply to my own family.  Perhaps that does get to an important take away.  We are to meet people, couples, and families in their present circumstances and accompany them on their journey to living a fuller, truer life in Christ.  Pope Francis emphasizes the need to be merciful.

     I was pleasantly surprised by the sources in the exhortation, including the ones I mentioned last week as well as Scripture, the Catechism, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Pope Benedict XVI.  Our own Bishop O'Connell's reflection emphasized the reliance on Scripture and Tradition.  I've been wanting to learn more about St. Thomas Aquinas and his treatment of the virtues.  Pope Francis writes often about helping people to grow in virtue.  He talks about them gradually growing to accept and live the truth of the Gospel.

     My new favorite message about the exhortation is from Archbishop Chaput, the bishop of Philadelphia.  He talked about the implementation of The Joy of Love in his diocese.  Pope Francis has called upon the local churches (dioceses) to apply his message to local circumstances.  This will take time because of the need for deeper reflections upon his words.

     If you're looking for a more academic, critical analysis, then consider the one by Fr. James Schall, S.J.  He talks about a weakness that is evident.  Pope Francis avoids those difficult passages where Jesus admonishes sinners.  He gives little advice on how to deal with people who stubbornly persist in manifest grave sin, refusing every merciful outreach.  It seems to me that Pope Francis is prudently emphasizing the more gentle aspects of mercy because that's what we need in our time.  And even though the exhortation is long, Pope Francis makes clear that he is not addressing all the aspects of family or how to help them.  He is giving more general advice.  It's up to us to apply it to our own families, parishes, and dioceses.  Let's pray for the intercession of the Holy Family to help our families to become more integrated into the family of God.