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world”. The four missions recognized by Familiaris Consortio point to the
one principle duty of the family: being at the service of human life, be it at
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the quantitative or qualitative level. Most of the family customs of the
Southist community, directly or indirectly, point to this principal mission of
the Christian family (Ch. 3.7 and Ch. 3.8). A cursory look at these customs,
with the symbols used in them, concurs with the idea of family as the
Sanctuary of Life. This study will now consider in detail the specific
missions of the Christian family as envisaged by the magisterium of Pope
John Paul II and the particular Southist customs that imply those missions.
The study will minimally include other documents of the Church that
support this teaching of the Pope.

4.1.1 This Sanctuary is Sanctified by the Covenant of Marriage

Magisterium Southist Family Custom
of Pope John Paul II
Familiaris Consortio 20, Beautifying the Bridegroom (Ch.
21 3.7.3.1 and Ch.3.7.3.1. 1)
Smearing the Bride with Henna (Ch.
3.7.3.3 and Ch. 3.7.3.1.1)

Pope John Paul II stated: “Christ renews the first plan that the
Creator inscribed in the hearts of man and woman, and in the celebration of
the sacrament of matrimony offers a ‘new heart’: thus the couples are not
only able to overcome ‘hardness of heart’, but also and above all they are
able to share the full and definitive love of Christ, the new and eternal
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Covenant made flesh”. The customs of Beautifying the Bridegroom and
Smearing the Bride with Henna show the importance of marriage as a
covenant and proclaim the need of internal and external purification before
entering into this covenant. The “ceremonial bathing” of the bride/groom, is
a symbolic expression and desire of the couple to be able to overcome

1 JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, no. 55, 22 November,
1981, in AAS 74, 1982, pp. 81-191.
2 Cf. Ibid., nos. 18-64.
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When speaking of life in the qualitative sense, this study considers man as created in the
image and likeness of God and quality of life is interpreted primarily in religious, spiritual,
moral and interpersonal dimensions and secondarily in its physical, material and economic
dimensions.
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Familiaris Consortio, no. 20.

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