Family is one of the most important aspects of our lives. In many ways, a family represents our faith. How we treat one another directly relates to how we treat the Church and God. Catholic quotes on family can remind us of the importance of love, obedience and respect.
4 Catholic Saint Quotes About Family
Family and marriage are fundamental aspects of any Catholic’s life. Family is the creation of God, and marriage is at its core. Family life is a reflection of the Catholic Church, and the Church believes how we act toward our family and loved ones directly influences how we interact with the world as a whole.
In many ways, how we treat our loved ones and family is how we treat God, as we are all created in His image and glory. Four popular Catholic saint quotes about family include:
#1. St. John Paul II
“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”
Saint John Paul II was beatified on May 1, 2011 and canonized on April 27, 2014, with his feast day on October 22. Saint John Paul II served as the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 and was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years as well as the first pope from a Slavic country.
Family is a small-scale version of the Church and is the sacrament of God’s love. If we want our Church to remain holy, we must ensure our families are holy. Our families must be a place where God is encountered first. The Scripture teaches us that creating a holy family begins with the unconditional love of husband and wife, rooted in Christ’s love.
#2. St. Teresa of Calcutta
“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”
Mother Teresa is the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation dedicated to helping women and the poor. Many people consider Mother Teresa to be one of the greatest humanitarians, and she was canonized as a saint in 2016.
Saint Teresa reminds us of the importance of our family and how our home is a smaller version of the world. When we show love and compassion to our families, we can bring happiness to the world itself. With love, empathy and respect for our families, we can be the change we want to see around us.
#3. St. Therese of Lisieux
“The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.”
Saint Therese of Lisieux is known as “Little Flower” and remains a big inspiration for many Catholics and theologians. Saint Therese was born on January 2, 1873, and died at 24 on September 30, 1897. Although her life was short, St. Therese’s journal was published, causing such a demand among followers that she was officially canonized in 1925.
Saint Therese’s quote signifies the importance and depth of the love between mother and child. The bond between a mother and her children is directly modeled on our love and devotion to God and represented by the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
#4. St. John Chrysostom
“When husband and wife are united in marriage they no longer seem like something earthly, but rather like the image of God Himself.”
St. John Chrysostom was born in Syria and served as a biblical interpreter, early Church Father and archbishop of Constantinople. Among his talents, Saint John Chrysostom was a skilled orator, moving many with his sermons and wisdom.
With his quote, Saint John Chrysostom enlightens us on the glory and wonder of the sacrament of marriage, which is, ultimately, a reflection of God’s image. The union of husband and wife and how each treats one another is a reflection of our relationship with God Himself.
4 Catholic Bible Quotes About Family
In the Catholic Church, respect and obedience to our families, especially our parents, is a fundamental aspect of our faith and is mentioned often in the Bible. Respect and love for our families help us remember that these attributes are essential for everyone in our life, as God teaches us to love every man, woman and child because we are all created in His image. Popular Catholic bible quotes on family include:
#1. Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
In Exodus 20:12, family and honoring our parents are incredibly important. We owe our very life to our parents, and, in many cases, our parents provide us with much more than just our physical life. Adoptive or biological parents clothe, feed, raise and house us while teaching us our faith foundations.
Family is so important in the Catholic Church that God promises a long life, meaning your life will be full of virtue and God’s good graces. While Exodus explicitly refers to honoring your mother and father, it is also essential to respect everyone in our lives, as we are all children of God and made in His image.
#2. 1 John 4:20
“If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
1 John 4:20 reminds us that, while love for Christ is essential, love and respect for our brothers and sisters on this planet are also fundamental to the Church. We are all created in God’s image and glory, meaning the way we treat one another is how we treat God Himself.
If a person claims to love God yet shows hatred for another person, he must be lying because that person is created in the image and glory of God Himself. Because it is harder to love someone you can’t see, the person must be a liar if they claim to hate someone they can see but love the one they cannot see.
#3. Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed Himself over for her.”
Ephesians 5:25 teaches us that the most important priority in a husband is to love and cherish his wife, not only in the way he speaks to her but specifically in the way he acts toward his wife. Paul explains the love and respect a husband should give his wife is the same that Jesus Christ has for all of His children.
A husband and wife share a deep, meaningful bond and offer one another a lifelong commitment despite any hardships or sacrifices that arise. Marriage is a sacred bond that only ends when death does thee part. While husbands are often seen as the leaders of families, they are dedicated to their wives to treat them with love, admiration and respect.
#4. Colossians 3:20-21
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.”
In Colossians 3:20-21, Paul reminds children to be obedient to their parents and respect their fathers as the household leader. He also speaks to fathers, encouraging them not to stir rebellion in their children. While these verses remind us to respect our family members, it restates the importance of treating all others with respect and love.
Even Jesus was obedient and respectful to His parents and the will of His almighty Father. Disobeying parents is considered to be a sinful act. It is vital children learn to respect their parents and others to lead a life closer to God and His teachings.
Help Families in Crisis With a Donation to Catholic World Mission Today
We all owe our very lives to our parents, and our families are at the very foundation of who we are. At Catholic World Mission, we are proud to help families in crisis to alleviate suffering and strengthen these families with the Gospel of our Lord. We aim to help families that are spiritually and materially less fortunate to find a new life following His love and light.
We encourage you to send us your prayer intentions and donate online to help us carry on the Lord’s mission.