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2. Marriage in Church and Civil Law: the impediments, canon law of
the sacrament of marriage, etc.
3. The hopes of couples: the selection of a life-long partner
4. Self-knowledge and personal development: knowledge of one’s own
weaknesses and merits, self-esteem and self-confidence, maturity in
the knowledge of human feelings, both bodily and spiritually
5. Male and female psychology: of the body and mind at the moral and
social levels
6. Sex in married life
7. Responsible motherhood and fatherhood: methods of natural family
planning and their positive effects on the couple’s life, the
immorality of contraceptive methods and abortion, pregnancy,
rearing of children and the pro-life movement.
8. Problems and solutions in family life: doubts and judgments,
prodigality and imprudent consummation of material goods,
excessive use of alcohol and drugs and the improper utilization of
the communication media.
9. Spirituality of the family: family prayer is the dynamic power for
family life, participation in the sacramental life of the Church
especially in the Eucharist 110

An examination of these themes reveals that this programme
provides a strong moral formation for the couple to begin a Sanctuary of
Life. In addition to this common schema, a special session on the particular
tradition and history of the Knānāya community and its family ceremonies
and their relevance is also included in the marriage preparation courses.
This additional session further forms the couple to be faithful to their
cultural heritage as they begin to be a Sanctuary of Life.

4.3.3 Challenges of the Sanctuary of Life in the Contemporary
Context

This analysis would not be complete without considering the
challenges faced by the Christian families in India and in the world today.
These challenges affect the families in the process of becoming a Sanctuary
of Life. An excellent way to defend the Sanctuary of Life is to know the
challenges and be prepared to face them.

4.3.3.1 Change in Values

The emerging, global, neo-liberal culture that promotes
individualism, selfishness, greed and an “idolatry of money” 111 poses a

110
Cf. Ibid., pp. 236-237.

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