蜜桃交友

By Devin Watkins

at the Wednesday General Audience, focusing his remarks on his role as the father of Jesus.

The Pope noted that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew present Joseph as the 鈥渇oster-father of Jesus鈥� and not as his biological one.

The evangelist Matthew avoids the term 鈥渇ather of鈥� in his genealogy, while Luke said he was the father of Jesus, 鈥渁s was supposed鈥�.

Venerable practice of adoption

Pope Francis recalled that the practice of adoption was much more common in ancient times in the East than it is in our own societies.

He gave the example of the requirement in ancient Israel for a man to marry the widowed wife of his deceased brother, if he died without a male heir (Dt 25:5-6).

In this case, the legal father of the firstborn son from such a union would be the deceased man, ensuring both an heir for the deceased and the preservation of his estate.

Instilling an identity

The institution of fatherhood also included the right to name a son, as Joseph named Jesus, thereby legally recognizing Him.

The Pope offered the examples of God changing Abram鈥檚 name to Abraham and Jacob鈥檚 to Israel, both of which involved a change to the patriarchs鈥� identity.

In choosing Jesus鈥� name, he added, Joseph already knew God had prepared a name for His Son, one meaning 鈥渢he Lord saves.鈥�

Becoming parents

Pope Francis went on to reflect on fatherhood and motherhood, saying people become parents by taking up their responsibility for their children.

Adoption a 鈥榬isk鈥� worth taking

The Pope then turned his thoughts to the institution of adoption. He said Joseph shows that adoption is not based on a secondary type of bond with a child, but rather exemplifies a high form of love.

鈥淗ow many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them!鈥� said the Pope. 鈥淎nd how many spouses wish to be fathers and mothers but are unable to do so for biological reasons; or, although they already have children, they want to share their family鈥檚 affection with those who have been left without.鈥�

Pope Francis encouraged willing families to choose the path of adoption, and to 鈥渢ake the risk of welcoming children.鈥�

Speaking off-the-cuff, the Pope lamented the 鈥渄emographic winter鈥� facing parts of the world, and urged married couples to welcome children鈥攖hrough natural birth or adoption鈥攔ather than buying more dogs and cats in place of children.

And he urged civil institutions to promote legal adoption, 鈥渂y seriously monitoring but also simplifying the necessary procedure to fulfill the dream of so many children who need a family鈥�.

Bond of paternal love

Finally, the Pope prayed that no child may be 鈥渄eprived of a bond of paternal love.鈥�

鈥淢ay Saint Joseph exercise his protection over and give his help to orphans," he prayed, "and may he intercede for couples who wish to have a child.鈥�

Pope Francis concluded his catechesis with a prayer to St. Joseph:

Saint Joseph,
you who loved Jesus with fatherly love,
be close to the many children who have no family
and who wish for a father and a mother.
Support the couples who are unable to have children,
Help them to discover, through this suffering, a greater plan.
Make sure that no one lacks a home, a bond,
a person to take care of him or her;
and heal the selfishness of those who close themselves off from life,
that they may open their hearts to love. Amen.