The Pattern of Nazareth

INTRODUCTION

The call to evangelize marks the commitment of many Christian couples who have joined in a now worldwide movement. Born of the Charismatic Renewal, Couples for Christ mean to draw from the example of the Holy Family and make the devotion to Christ’s mission a widespread reality in the family.

WRITTEN BY

SHARE THE WORD

PUBLISHED ON

Vatican II spoke beautifully of the Christian family and its vocation to holiness and apostolate in Gaudium et Spes, in the wake of Pope Paul VI iconic speech at Nazareth, during his historic visit to the Holy Land in 1964. Although we have rare examples of holy couples in Church history like saint Isidro Labrador and his wife, Maria de la Cabeza, it is only recently that there is the beatification of a couple, husband and wife, together.

The first couple to be beatified is Luigi and Maria Beltrame-Quattrocchi: he was an engineer and committed in politics and she was a professor and a poet. The second was Saint Therese of Lisieux’s parents Louis and Zélie Martin: he was a watchmaker and she an artist in the lace-making trade.

Many other fascinating couples are emerging from the history of our times like Jean and Raissa Maritain: he was the most prominent Christian philosopher of the XXth century and she a writer and a mystic, both converted to Catholicism during their university years and died in the odor of sanctity.

And how can we forget Leonard Cheshire and Baroness Sue Ryder: both from prominent British families who advanced in their career as Christian philanthropists, committed to the handicapped, orphans and any type of unhappy humanity. Love caught up with them in the afternoon of their lives: they married, had two daughters and continue their saintly life in the most exemplary way until the Lord called them.

Unity Is Strength
The movement of Couples for Christ (CFC) began in 1981 in Manila, Philippines, when Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (Joy in the Lord), a covenanted Christian charismatic community, realized that to effectively renew society, a conversion of both spouses and consequently families to Christ was necessary.

The method used consists of bringing together a small group of prospective couples in a private home. There they are brought to a living relationship with Jesus Christ and to renewal in the power of the Holy Spirit through a series of weekly informal discussions of the Gospel in a social environment.

Those who want to join have to go through a weekly seminar series called the Christian Life Program, which usually spans several weeks or sessions. The exercise serves as the primary Evangelization approach, a core activity of CFC members.

At the end of the seminar, couple-participants are invited to dedicate themselves to the Lord as CFC members and to commit themselves to participating actively in the life of the community and the Church through regular prayer meetings, attendance to community assemblies and involvement in parish life.

CFC members commit themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising families grounded in Christian values, in the service and love of God.

Family Life Renewal 
Beginning from the first 16 couples who joined the weekly gathering, the movement became a Christian family life renewal which was later made available to parishes and groups of married couples who wished to live out their Christian life in an active, supportive relationship with one another. The growth of CFC stemmed from its heart for mission and evangelization and its commitment to sharing God’s love with others, beginning from the basic unit, the family.

The Christian Life Program is also the point of entry for those who wish to join CFC’s Family Ministries: Singles for Christ, for single young professionals; Handmaids of the Lord and Servants of the Lord, for women and men who are widowed, single parents or those whose spouses choose not to join; Youth for Christ (for teenagers) and Kids for Christ (for pre-teens) through attendance in a regular camp or similar activity.

In 1996, CFC was approved by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as a National Association of Lay Faithful and, in 2000, was recognized by the Holy See as an International Association of Lay Faithful of Pontifical Right. CFC claims to have a presence in dioceses across all 81 Philippine provinces and more than160 countries. It sent participants to the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, an event organized by Pope Francis in 2014.

The number of people involved worldwide is estimated to be more than 800 thousand. Over the course of CFC’s existence, there have been some restructuring and changes of leadership, and occasionally, divisions. Despite these, the members at large are mostly unaffected, and the respective communities continue to flourish.

Share Your Thoughts

All comments are moderated

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

Winds of the Spirit

Lay Jesuits

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

WM SPECIAL

Presents, discusses and draws readers to reflect on issues of outmost relevance to the world today.


FRONTIERS

Very often, mission is carried out in frontier situations around the world. Those who embrace these situations have much to share.


UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Writer Ilsa Reyes will be exploring the richness of Pope Francis’s latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti with a view of helping our readers to get a grasp of the this beautiful papal document.


FRONTLINE

Puts to the front committed and inspiring people around the world who embrace humanitarian and religious causes with altruism and passion.


IN FOCUS

Focus on a given theme of interest touching upon social, economic and religious issues.


FAITH@50

As the Philippines prepares to celebrate 500 years of the arrival of Christianity. Fr. James Kroeger leads us in this series into a discovery journey of the landmark events in the history of faith in the Philippine archipelago.


INSIGHT

Aims to nurture and inspire our hearts and minds while pondering upon timely themes.


FILIPINO FOCUS

The large archipelago of the Philippines, in its richness of peoples and cultures, offers varied and challenging situations for mission.


FOLLOW ME

Reflections and vocation stories that shape up the lives of young people.


MISSION IS FUN

As humor and goodness of heart are qualities of Christian and missionary life, the new column “Mission is fun” will be publishing some anecdotes and stories that have happened in a missionary context to lighten up the spirits and trigger a smile in our faces.


LIVING COMMUNION

To help readers of World Mission live this year dedicated to Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, Tita Puangco, writer and lecturer, shares in this section insights on the spirituality of communion.


WINDS OF THE SPIRIT

A historic view of the Catholic movements that emerged from the grassroots as an inspiration by the Holy Spirit.


BRIDGE BUILDERS

On the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, radio host and communicator Ilsa Reyes, in her monthly column, encourages Christians and people of good will to be one with their fellow people of other sects, religions and tribes.


INTERVIEW

Questions to a personality of the Church or secular world on matters of interest that touch upon the lives of people.


WORLD TOUCH

News from the Church, the missionary world and environment that inform and form the consciences.


CARE OF THE EARTH

A feature on environmental issues that are affecting the whole world with the view of raising awareness and prompting action.


EDITORIAL

The editor gives his personal take on a given topic related to the life of the Church, the society or the world.


YOUNG HEART

A monthly column on themes touching the lives of young people in the Year of the Youth in the Philippines by radio host and communicator I lsa Reyes.


SCROLL

A missionary living in the Chinese world shares his life-experiences made up of challenges and joyous encounters with common people.


EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Life stories of people who deserve to be known for who they were, what they did and what they stood for in their journey on earth.


ONE BY ONE

Stories of people whom a missionary met in his life and who were touched by Jesus in mysterious ways.


INCREASE OUR FAITH

Critical reflection from a Christian perspective on current issues.


SPECIAL MOMENTS

Comboni missionary Fr. Lorenzo Carraro makes a journey through history pinpointing landmark events that changed the course of humanity.


PROFILE

A biographical sketch of a public person, known for his/her influence in the society and in the Church, showing an exemplary commitment to the service of others.


WM REPORTS

Gives fresh, truthful, and comprehensive information on issues that are of concern to all.


LIFE'S ESSENTIALS

A column aimed at helping the readers live their Christian mission by focusing on what is essential in life and what it entails.


ASIAN FOCUS

Peoples, events, religion, culture and the society of Asia in focus.


THE SEARCHER'S PATH

The human heart always searches for greatness in God’s eyes, treading the path to the fullness of life - no matter what it takes.


INDIAN FOCUS

The subcontinent of India with its richness and variety of cultures and religions is given center stage.


AFRICAN FOCUS

The African continent in focus where Christianity is growing the fastest in the world.


JOURNEY MOMENTS

Well-known writer and public speaker, Fr. Jerry Orbos, accompanies our journey of life and faith with moments of wit and inspiration based on the biblical and human wisdom.


IGNATIUS STEPS

On the year dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyala, Fr. Lorenzo Carraro walks us through the main themes of the Ignatian spirituality.


THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS

Fr. John Taneburgo helps us to meditate every month on each of the Seven Last Words that Jesus uttered from the cross.


INSIDE THE HOLY BOOK

In this section, Fr. Lorenzo delves into the secrets and depths of the Sacred Scriptures opening for us the treasures of the Sacred Book so that the reader may delight in the knowledge of the Word of God.


CONVERSATIONS

Reflections about the synodal journey on a conversational and informal style to trigger reflection and sharing about the synodal path the Church has embarked upon.

Shopping Cart