Accompanying Young Spouses in the Initial Years of Marriage

Abstract

The release of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia revealed the need in the universal Church to accompany spouses in the initial years of marriage. The First Instruction of the Polish Episcopate for the Clergy on Preparation of the Faithful for the Sacrament of Marriage and on Pastoral Care of the Family introduced in Poland in the late sixties highlighted the fact that leaving young spouses alone in the initial stage of their life in marriage is disadvantageous. Therefore, Christian community should gain profound knowledge of the difficulties faced by young spouses in order to provide them with proper aid. St. John Paul II also highlighted the need to accompany young spouses in his apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio (cf. FC, 65). Pope Francis, concerned about the irresponsible attitude of fiancés towards contracting sacramental marriage, teaches in his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia that “the initial years of marriage are a vital and sensitive period during which couples become more aware of the challenges and meaning of married life” (AL, 223). The Pope higlights the greatest opportunity of help in accompanying young spouses after the celebration of the sacrament of marriage. He encourages pastoral workers to assist young couples in order to help them complete the unfinished process of becoming mature in order to face the responsibility to contract sacramental marriage. The author of the article attempts to explain what accompanying is, what issues should be discussed during meetings with the spouses in the initial years of marriage and what subjects should actively participate in assissting young spouses.