See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

106. In the case of celibacy, similar reasoning is at work. Christ’s love is continent because he makes a total gift of himself, an unconditional affirmation of the other: “What shall a man give in return for his life?” (Mt 16:26) Christ’s love is expressed in his desire to share all of himself with his disciples (Lk 22:15), to give himself to them fully in order to bring everyone back to the Father to share God’s own glory.104 Marital love is the covenant’s rationale shaping how we procreate; celibate love is the covenant’s rationale brought to life in the whole community.

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In its introduction, the document says its aim is to present “Catholic teaching in a way that is fresh, insightful, and accessible to contemporary Catholics and all people of good will.” The catechesis “offers a narrative beginning with our creation, soberly noting our fall and the challenges we face, but emphasizing God’s plan for our salvation. Love is our mission, and it is by loving God and one another that we will be fully alive.”

Each day in CatholicPhilly.com’s World Meeting of Families section you can reflect on the official Catholic teaching on the family presented in the catechesis, pray a special prayer together as a family or individually, and stay on top of breaking news about the events coming Sept. 22-27, 2015.

Order the catechesis for your home via Our Sunday Visitor, and visit WorldMeeting2015.org for more information on the events.

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