The Words of the del Monte Family
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The Words of the del Monte Family |
Madrid, Spain - On October 24, UPF-Spain held a conference on "The Attitude of a Good Citizen and Family Values" at the Peace Embassy in Madrid. Forty-three people participated in the event hosted by Leonardo and Takiko del Monte. This was UPF-Spain's eighth conference related to family values and the second on peace education.
Mrs. Conchita García opened with an introduction to the work of UPF International and its purposes.
The first speaker was Mr. José Manuel Cabero, an educator, and the second speaker was Mrs. Mercedes González, Coordinator of the Marriage and Family Initiative.
Both gave expositions with complementary views on the theme, explaining the five Universal Principles that a good citizen should live by and the value of maintaining sexual purity before marriage.
Inspirational words were given about good character, emphasizing the importance of stable and strong family relationships with love, unity, and harmony, and the importance of living for the sake of others as a way to erase selfishness and develop altruism.
This was followed by a toast for peace, based on four points: loving God, purity before marriage, fidelity in marriage, and following the path of a good citizen. Prayers for peace were offered by two nuns of the Dominican order and by several other women. One person offered a song, and the Mil Caminos chorus sang seven beautiful spiritual songs, creating a peaceful and joyful atmosphere in the hall. Their last song was "Dona Nobis Pacem," a canon with a heavenly spirit.
A Catholic lady said that she "had received a lesson from God." An earlier experience was clarified, and she said she gained insights into the value of doing something unselfish in service to others. The chorus was very pleased with the welcome their singing received, and members said they respected the presentations.
The second part of the program followed lunch. There was a short talk by an expert on Chinese medicine, Mr. Manuel Varela. Many people expressed gratitude for his advice and asked many questions.