By Anthony Barich
SEVERAL key leaders in the marriage and family movement in Australia have called for a national 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Marriage and Family from 1–21 February.
While National Marriage Day, organised by the Australian Family Association and the National Marriage Coalition, is not until 13 August, family breakdown and social dysfunction rife in Australia has given rise to the urgent call for prayer and fasting.
Currently, 40 per cent of marriages end in divorce and increased cohabitation rates, which are prone to even higher levels of dissolution, are leading to higher levels of heartbreak.
There is also growing concern about the current Greens’ proposed same-sex marriage Bill which, if passed, will further weaken marriage and rob children of a mother and a father, the AFA said.
Marriage and family leaders are encouraging churches and individuals to join this urgent call for prayer by initiating special prayer meetings or incorporating the call to prayer into existing activities from Tuesday, 1 February to Monday, 21 February.
National Marriage Day coordinator Mary-Louise Fowler said the month of prayer and fasting is critical to “preserve the essence of and the pre-eminent place of the wonderful institution of marriage in Australian society”.
Dennis and Ann Outred, coordinators of Marriage Week from 11-17 September, said that while there are many things in Australian society that need urgent attention through prayer and fasting, “marriage between a man and a woman is one of the foundational building blocks of the Church and the nation, and is among the top of the list”.
St Valentine’s Day on 14 February is also a timely reminder of prayer and the power of sacrificial love, she said. “This makes February a good time to pray for marriage. We therefore encourage you to join this call to pray for marriage and family,” she said.
Francine Pirola, of the Catholic enrichment programme Celebrate Love, said that prayer is “our greatest unused marital resource” as Christians.
“Please pray with your spouse daily over this 21-day period of prayer. Have a family prayer time as well once a week,” she advised.
“When it comes to fasting, rather than fast the whole time you can always fast one day per week or miss a meal from time to time. The key thing is the attitude of the heart. It’s all about expressing a heart of love for God and each other throughout this time of prayer.”
National Marriage Coalition spokesman Gerard Calilhanna said that “negative spiritual forces are only too happy to see marriages fail and families break down. I believe prayer is the answer”, and noted that Jesus referred to the power of prayer and fasting in Matthew 17:21. “We should not be afraid to follow His example.”
Fatherhood Foundation founder Warwick Marsh said the call to prayer and fasting is particularly urgent as Federal Parliament returns on 8 February, and MPs are expected to decide on the proposed introduction of homosexual marriage by the Greens soon after.
“This is why it is so important to pray over the first 21 days of February. Marriage redefined is marriage destroyed,” he said.
“Please go and see your Federal Parliamentarian if you have not already done so. They are waiting to hear from you.
“This is yet another reason to pray for our parliamentarians and the future of marriage and family in Australia in 2011. We are also pleased to announce that the Australian Prayer Network will be encouraging its members to get behind this call to prayer for marriage and family.”