Man Cannot Live Without Love

This short essay was written last year following the Congress in Rome May 2006

Man cannot live without love.

He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless,
if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience
it and make it his own, if he does not participate in it intimately. –Redemptoris Hominis John Paul II

The John Paul II Institute for Studies on the Family and Marriage held an International Congress in Rome during the week of May 11-13th 2006, to recognize the twenty-fifth anniversary of its establishment as a Pontifical Institute. The International Congress “Loving Human Love: The Heritage of John Paul II on Marriage and Family” was held to commemorate the life and dynamic contribution of this great Pope to the renewal and re-education of both the meaning and essence of marriage and the family. John Paul II understood the communion of marriage as being a sacrament of the Trinitarian God, and thus an integral key to approach the mystery of the Infinite, and consequently at the same time reflection on the revelation of the Infinite by Jesus Christ to better understand the mystery of man created in the image and likeness of God. John Paul sought to renew the meaning and importance of the family by continuously emphasizing throughout his pontificate that the family is the cornerstone of a culture of life. He described the family as being the “domestic church,” that the family and home is the first and primary school of Christian life and thus where one first encounters the love of God and is educated in the Christian life.

The John Paul II Institute is a fruit of the Synod of Bishops held in 1980 devoted to better understanding the unique role of the family within the Church. At the conclusion of the Synod, the Synod Fathers called for the creation of theological centers around the world devoted to the study of the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family. Pope John Paul II responded to the Synod with the establishment of the Pontifical Institute Studies on Marriage and Family and the Pontifical Council for the Family. The Institute’s establishment was to be announced in the Holy Father’s Wednesday audience on May 13th 1981. However, because of his attempted assassination on that date, the Apostolic Constitution of the Pontifical Institute was instead given on October 7th 1982, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. On that occasion, the Institute was entrusted in a special way to the care of the most Blessed Virgin under her title Our Lady of Fatima. Currently, there are sessions of the Institute established in Rome (Italy), Washington, D.C (United States), Valencia (Spain), Mexico City and Guadalaja (Mexico), Contonou (Benin -Africa), Salvador da Bahia (Brazil), Changanacherry (India), Gaming (Austria), Melbourne (Australia) and Ballina (Ireland).

Professors, students and friends from the various sessions of the Institute from around the world came to the International Congress to celebrate and pay tribute to the vibrant contribution of the Great Pope. The Diocese of Saint John was well represented at the International Congress having a group of three persons partake in the three-day meetings. Former students (Melody Murphy and Ellen Roderick) along with present student (John Roderick) had the awesome opportunity to participate in the activities of the International Congress in Rome.

During the conference itself, we had the opportunity to partake in panel discussions regarding the impact of John Paul’s theological vision for the Church from such leading theologians in the Church as: Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Cardinal Primate of Canada), Monsignor Livio Melina (President of the Institute) and Carl A. Anderson (Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus). The papers presented throughout the weekend were definite testaments of the exceptional legacy of the life and work of the Great Pontiff. At times during the Congress, just being present in the seminar room with such an incredible community of committed Catholics working at understanding and implementing John Paul’s vision was quite overwhelming. The knowledge of being part of such a great community and knowing that the inspiration drawn from the International Congress will be taken to homes and dioceses around the world is tremendously inspiring as it will lead to the sharing and building upon the renewal that is currently occurring in the Church. The renewal and transformation of the world occurs one heart at a time through the re-education of the greatness of the dignity and vocation of all men to love as revealed by Jesus Christ and as He proclaimed and taught for the Church. The graces and the workings of the Holy Spirit resulting from this celebration of the founding of the John Paul II Institute will continue into the future for many years to come.

Sincere Thanks to all my Classmates, Teachers and Friends who journeyed with me and shared in the Institute experience.

JR