Family life keeps derailing my attempts to read, ponder and write about Pope Francis’s document on the family Amoris Laetitia .
Last week, Hubby and I went to help care for a sick grand-baby. This week, we’ll be pitching in with another wee one while her nanny is on sick leave. With four grand-children and two on the way, Grammy and Papa’s dance card is never blank. There is always an opportunity for a spin around the room with our much loved kiddies.
This is nothing unusual. It’s a simple reflection of the reality of family life. When you’re in the midst of juggling married life, work, loving and caring for your children (from babes to adults!) and much needed leisure/social time, papal documents are the farthest thing from your mind. Even if you have all the time in the world, chances are you won’t be spending it curled up on the couch reading the latest words from Rome. Unless you’re a real church geek.
Readers of this blog know that I am such a geek. I spend an embarrasing amount of time reading the latest news and following discussion boards. Reading is always easier than writing. Reading can also be an excuse to procrastinate with the writing. It’s much easier to check your Twitter time-line for the latest articles than to sit down and put words on paper.
Of course, writing about reading that hasn’t been read therefore keeping one from the reading so the writing on the reading can finally be done is also a form of procrastination. (As is thinking up nonsense lines!)
Amoris Laetitia, has produced an outpouring of commentaries and news articles both praising and critiquing specific sections or the document in general. I’m just beginning Chapter 9. So far, I share the general elation in the fresh, new spirit while feeling the disappointment in sections that spout the “same old, same old”. But, before I write anymore I need to finish reading it.
Hmmm…Would it be ironic if I told my family that I have no time for them because I need to read a document on love in the family???!!!
catholic dialogue 
Thank you for sharing this. All I can say as a devout Catholic, ” Don’t judge a book by its cover, or, crafted, shallow comments. Wait before curling up on the sofa with the good read”. It is not for avid readers of best sellers. I am sure you will be rewarded, whatever your predisposition.
I’ve read many papal and vatican documents over the years. What strikes me about Pope Francis is his accessibility in both his person and in his words. This, in itself, is refreshing. The best parts of Amoris Laetitia, in my humble opinion, are those where Francis obviously strays off the traditional route of heavily referenced quotes and speaks from the heart.
Amen Yours in JC Roy Fanthome
On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 12:30 AM, catholic dialogue wrote:
> Isabella R. Moyer commented: “I’ve read many papal and vatican documents > over the years. What strikes me about Pope Francis is his accessibility in > both his person and in his words. This, in itself, is refreshing. The best > parts of Amoris Laetitia, in my humble opinion, are those wher” >