The objectives of pastoral accompaniment for married couples in the first years of married life in the light of the documents Amoris Laetitia and Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life

Abstract

One of the rapidly growing subfields in contemporary pastoral theology is the pastoral care of families. Besides numerous documents published during the pontificate of John Paul II, known as the Pope of the Family, particularly valuable responses from the Church to the current marriage crisis are Francis’s exhortation Amoris Laetitia and the document by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, highlighting the urgent need for thorough formation of engaged and newly married couples during their first years of marriage. In this context, aside from the more frequently investigated topic of marriage preparation, a key question arises: What does the pathway of catechumenal initiation and pastoral accompaniment for newly married couples consist of? This study aims to present the main objectives of pastoral accompaniment for newlyweds from a theological perspective, drawing on research in family psychology. To address the problem thus formulated, we applied the deductive method – the primary approach in theology – along with its specific techniques; we also employed pastoral theology analysis, which enables the integration of insights from psychology and other disciplines into theology. As a result, the study not only clarifies the essence of mystagogical accompaniment for newly married couples but also identifies six specific objectives, which are discussed along with their selected forms and implementation methods.
Contribution: Because of interdisciplinary cooperation, theology provides social sciences with an in-depth perspective not only on marriage itself but also on marital love, the experience of sexuality within marriage and approaches to marital crises. Through the achievements of family theology, practical theology remains true to its human focus, maintains pastoral realism and relevance and contributes to the greater effectiveness of ministry.