Society should support married couples

A wise society which planned for the long term would protect and support married couples and would ensure that they lived in unity to ward off the dangers which were threatening marriage, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca said yesterday.

Such a society would never cease working to create and maintain the environment needed for married couples to really live as a family and not just as individuals living in the same house, he said.

Mgr Mercieca was addressing couples who were married last year during the annual Family Feast organised by the Cana Movement at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

He said marriage was very close to the heart of the Church in Malta which wanted to offer encouragement to families whose marriage was sound.

Mgr Mercieca said that for Catholics, marriage was not just a contract or pact, but a sacrament - a sign of God's love.

Therefore the couple had the responsibility to love one another.

Mgr Mercieca said that at a time when married couples were facing so many situations which fostered egoism and individualism, he wished to encourage all married couples to rediscover anew the beauty of the sacrament of marriage which was built on the God's love for mankind.

He said a marriage built on such love would be one built on good foundations and would transform itself in a sound institution which was beneficial to society.

"A couple's commitment and their dedication to the upbringing of children were priceless treasures which a wise society should appreciate and make any sacrifice to protect them from danger," Mgr Mercieca said.