{"id":8524,"date":"2019-11-11T10:05:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T16:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legionariosdecristo.org\/?p=8524"},"modified":"2025-08-12T19:52:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T19:52:06","slug":"good-samaritan-the-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/subdir.legionariosdecristo.org\/en\/blog\/2019\/11\/good-samaritan-the-family\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00abA great satisfaction when one can be a good Samaritan to the family\u00bb"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fr. Michael Ryan is the first\u00a0Legionary of Christ\u00a0to be recognized with an award\u00a0Alter Christus<\/a> in its six editions. In his case, for his work in Family Pastoral. Fr. Michael offers in this interview with Lo+RC, in addition to some comments about his interest in family, some advice for both engaged couples and married couples. To those, if they have any problems, he encourages \u201cto seek help immediately from someone who can lend a hand to untie the knots and clarify the misunderstandings that have been formed.\u201d Along with him, in this occasion, Don Sergio Buiza, from the Diocese of Bilbao, was recognized for his work with the deaf and deaf-blind; Don Jos\u00e9 Aumente for his dedication to itinerant people working in the circus; and Don Jos\u00e9 Alberto Gonz\u00e1lez, from the Diocese of C\u00f3rdoba, for his commitment to consecrated life.<\/p>\n

Are you the first Legionary of Christ to receive an Alter Christus award in the six editions held so far? As you can see, it\u2019s not an award to give \u201cto the insiders.\u201d What does this recognition mean to you?<\/h4>\n

I receive it in honor of all the people who have contributed to my pastoral activity for the good of the family. Although it is received by one person, I feel it is to recognize the work of many.<\/p>\n

Why, as a priest, are you specifically interested in the family, both from a scientific and university perspective, as well as pastoral?<\/h4>\n

I am interested in the family primarily because of the specific people who make it up and whom I would like to see enjoying all the blessings that God has placed in it. It is also a great satisfaction when one can act as a Good Samaritan to a couple or a family suffering for whatever reason.<\/p>\n

It is more than common to hear that \u201cpriests don\u2019t know anything about marriage.\u201d What is your opinion of this statement?<\/h4>\n

Sometimes, when I have spoken about these topics to groups, there have been people who ask me if I am or have been married because it seems I know too much about this reality. However, what I know is the result of some study, but above all, from my frequent dealings with couples and families.<\/p>\n

What is the message that the Catholic Church has at this moment of marital and family crisis?<\/h4>\n

First, let\u2019s try to give better preparation to young people and engaged couples. Second, the Church wants to accompany families more closely so that they can become \u201cwhat they are,\u201d as John Paul II loved to say.<\/p>\n

To a couple who is thinking about getting married right now, what advice would you give?<\/h4>\n

Something on two levels: to do a good analysis of what they have been during their engagement to detect their positive points and their weak points, making a plan for the future; and secondly, to adjust their spiritual lives because love is nourished there.<\/p>\n

And for a marriage that has already been together for some years and is beginning to have some disagreements?<\/h4>\n

If they see that it\u2019s something that doesn\u2019t go away, they should seek help immediately from someone who can lend a hand to untie the knots and clarify the misunderstandings that have been formed.<\/p>\n