{"id":48489,"date":"2023-08-16T05:10:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-16T05:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/?p=48489"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:48:28","slug":"what-is-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/es\/2023\/08\/what-is-family\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Family?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Join our Newsletter<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Family?<\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

The family is \"the fundamental cell of society<\/strong>\". (Pope Francis, 66)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But it Goes Deeper Than That!<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


The family is rooted in the nature of God.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"What<\/p>\n

The definition of family is rooted in the nature of God!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

It is \"a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.\" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2205)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[M]arriage and the family are rooted in the inmost nucleus of the truth about man<\/strong> and his destiny.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Family is the image of God who \u201cin his deepest mystery is not all by himself, but a family\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"[T]he Family begins...in the image of God who is love and calls man and woman to love according to his likeness\". (Synod Report to Pope Francis, 35)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What Makes a Family?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


\"The family is based upon a marriage<\/strong>\u201d (Pope St. John XXIII, 193)<\/a> \"in which the mutual gift of self<\/strong> by husband and wife creates an environment in which children can be born and develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny.\" (Pope St. John Paul, 39)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This traditional<\/em>\u00a0family<\/em> \"is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life.\" (CCC, 2207)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is \"the place in which life \u2014 the gift of God \u2014 can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 39)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Purpose of the Family?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


\"The family is a kind of school of deeper humanity.\" (Gaudium et Spes, 52)<\/a><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Its \"fundamental task is\u00a0to serve life\"<\/strong>. (Pope St. John Paul II, 28)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The family \"has the mission to guard, reveal and communicate love, and this is a living reflection of and a real sharing in God's love for humanity\". (Pope St. John Paul II, 17)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Families are \"called to welcome, radiate and show the world the love<\/strong> and presence of Christ<\/strong>.\" (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Family the Answer to Today's Crisis?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n


\"The family...is uniquely<\/strong> suited<\/strong> to teach and transmit cultural, ethical, social, spiritual and religious values, essential for the development and well-being of its own members and of society.\" (Preamble, E., Charter of the Rights of the Family)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Top Magisterial Quotes about Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What is Marriage?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Top Marriage Quotes from the Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Family Important?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Healthy Families are the Future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Consumption and Family Life<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Is Family Life Today Under Attack?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Families and New Definitions<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Rediscovering the Power of Fatherhood<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Importance of Motherhood<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Learning from the Holy Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

An Old Fashioned Christmas<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

More About The Family<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Back to Articles<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\"Three<\/div>

Three Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>

Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Human Dignity<\/a><\/h2>

This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Solidarity<\/a><\/h2>

Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Subsidiarity<\/a><\/h2>

Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Sign Up For Our Newsletter:<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>