Category

Marriage Preparation

Jul 25
0

Common Obstacles to Serving with Love

By | Communication, Family Life, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Meaning of Marriage | No Comments

The Influence of Secular Individualism In contemporary society, it has become difficult to see that our life and love may have a purpose greater than just our own self-satisfaction. We are constantly bombarded by messages that tell us to “put yourself first” and “do what feels good.” This individualistic view of life is an obstacle to serving God and each other. The 2007 report published by the National Marriage Project called “The State of Our Unions” speaks of a cultural shift that is taking place in the United States. The social scientists report on the growing influence of “secular individualism.” Secular individualism is a mindset that is spreading across all modern cultures, touting a secular view of life. This way of thinking replaces the guidance of religious faith with the pursuit of personal self-fulfillment. Secular individualism is leading our society to distort the meaning of marriage; accept cohabitation, divorce, and…

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Jul 25
0

How the Sacramental Graces of Marriage Help Couples

By | Catholic Weddings, Communication, Family Life, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Meaning of Marriage | No Comments

The sacrament of Marriage is not just a ritual you will celebrate on your wedding day. Your wedding rite is the door that opens your heart to the graces you need to be a credible icon of Jesus’ love each day of your life—a sacrament of God’s love. Being married in the Church in a sacramental marriage is an act of faith that brings you many graces. It is because of your faith that you allow yourself to be touched by God and love your spouse in good times and bad. You let the example of Jesus and the prompting of the Holy Spirit guide you and influence you every day. • When you are upset and hurt in your relationship, it will be your faith that urges you to turn to Jesus who will guide you back to each other. • When you bask in the love of your…

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Jun 28
0

Tools for Communication and Prayer

By | Communication, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Meaning of Marriage, Spirituality | No Comments

The road to mutual welcome and acceptance requires spouses to do a great deal of listening and to engage in honest, self-giving conversation with each other and with God. Listening with an Open Mind Spouses often give one another advice that is helpful. At times, though, the advice is unsolicited and can create barriers, conflict, and even hostility. Marriage experts tell us that too often this advice is seen as nagging or bossy and therefore too frequently is simply dismissed, despite the fact that there is considerable advantage to listening to one’s spouse with an open mind and at least considering, if not always accepting, his or her advice. Teri: The Door John and I were married two and a half years and had a ten month- old daughter. We were living in our first home and decided to install a storm door for our front entrance. We went to…

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Jun 28
1

Accepting Your Spouse as Precious Gift

By | Communication, Finding Joy, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Meaning of Marriage, Spirituality | No Comments

You welcome and accept your spouse as Jesus welcomes you when you embrace him or her as a precious gift. Between 1979 and 1984 St. John Paul II gave a series of talks on the dignity of the human person and marriage. These lectures became known as the Theology of the Body. Then pope, John Paul taught that God gave Eve to Adam and Adam to Eve as a gift. He made each for the other. You are made for each other, and in marriage you give your spouse the gift that you are. In your mutual self-giving and receiving, you affirm one another as a man and as a woman and you grow closer together. When leading retreats for married couples, we often ask, “How is your spouse a gift from God to you?” Here are some of the answers we have heard: “We are thankful that God made…

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Aug 27
0

Enthronement Offers a New Beginning in Your Marriage

By | Communication, Family Life, Finding Joy, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Spirituality | No Comments

By Emily Jaminet More than seven years ago, my family welcomed Jesus in a special way through the enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On that day, my husband and I were joined by our six children and my parents for this momentous occasion. At the time, we felt like “life was good” and marriage was “fine,” but we soon discovered that the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was offering us so much more! The enthronement allowed us to hit the pause button as a couple amid our very busy lives and pray that our Lord would come into our lives in a new way. Over the years, I have realized that every other significant spiritually impacting experience took place on retreats, at conferences, at our church, and in Holy Mass. The enthronement was the first time where as a couple and a family we were strengthened in the…

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Aug 27
1

The Marriage Matrix

By | Communication, Finding Joy, Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Meaning of Marriage, Romance, Spirituality | No Comments

By John Bosio With the release of the film trilogy The Matrix, a new word entered our popular vocabulary. The word “matrix” is actually an old word, according to the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary. It dates back to the sixteenth century and has its roots in Latin. Matrix means “something from which something else originates”  and “form or mold, and pattern.” Matrix is a word that describes well God’s relationship with humanity and our relationship with God. He is our matrix; the source of our being and of our life. God is the pattern in the likeness of whom we were made. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you are the potter: we are all the work of your hands.” (Is 64:8) Marriage is not an institution invented by humans: God created it. When God made the first man and the first…

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Apr 02
2
Francis Address to Engaged Couples

Afraid Your Marriage Won’t Last? Here’s a Simple Way to Make Sure It Does (HINT: It’s Endorsed by the Pope)

By | Marriage Enrichment, Marriage Preparation, Spirituality | No Comments

The name of the Together for Life book is no coincidence. When couples join together in holy matrimony they vow to be true to each other in sickness and health as long as they both shall live. They vow to be together for life. Today, however, many people are afraid of making such a long-term commitment. In a recent address by Pope Francis to engaged couples (actually it was more like a Q and A with the pope), he expressed this unfortunate tenancy in our culture that leads us to fear forever. Pope Francis spoke about this fear, saying, “[This is] a general fear that comes from our culture. To make life decisions seems impossible. Today everything changes so quickly, nothing lasts long.” The Holy Father went on to point out a common practice of many couples who decide that when the sentiment is gone, the marriage should end as…

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Mar 06
8
Catholic Wedding Music

Choosing Your Catholic Wedding Music

By | Catholic Weddings, Marriage Preparation | No Comments
You have seen weddings on TV and in the movies, and you have likely attended a few yourself to get ideas for your own Catholic wedding music. But have you considered also looking at your parish’s Sunday Mass? Paying attention to what happens at the Sunday Mass at your church—even if it’s not the same church where you will be married—will give you a huge advantage when you begin planning your Catholic wedding ceremony with the church staff where your wedding will take place. Many misunderstandings and disappointments that sometimes happen when you’re working with the church wedding coordinator, priest, or music director can be avoided if you just remember this key point: Your wedding is first and foremost a church ritual that needs to follow the principles and rules of the official public rites of the Catholic Church, also called “liturgies.” The church staff’s model for what your wedding...
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Feb 05
0
Dr. Anthony Garascia

Free Webinar: Before They Do: Helping Couples Prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage

By | Marriage Preparation | No Comments

All marriage preparation coordinators and volunteers are invited to join Ave Maria Press for a webinar with tips on designing effective programs to prepare couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony. On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 3:00pm EDT, Dr. Anthony Garascia will be the featured presenter in the ongoing Ave Maria Press Professional Development Webinar Series. In this Webinar, titled “Before They Do: Helping Couples Prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage,” Dr. Anthony Garascia will focus on how host couples or group sessions can help engaged couples prepare best for their marriage. Critical issues of communication and conflict resolution will be addressed, as well as suggestions on how to integrate the FOCCUS and Prepare-Enrich inventories into the marriage preparation. Sign up for the webinar today!   Dr. Garascia is the author of the marriage preparation book, Before “I Do”, published by Ave Maria Press. Before “I Do” helps engaged couples examine the…

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Oct 04
0
Financial Questions for Married Couples

Financial Questions and Answers for Engaged Couples

By | Finances, Marriage Preparation | 2 Comments

We were so thankful for Dan Lloyd’s article on the “Ten Financial Tips for Newlyweds” that we asked a few follow-up financial questions for engaged couples. Thanks to Dan and Catholic Financial Life for contributing!  1. What should engaged couples and newly married couples focus on first? Debt? Investing? Buying a house? A newly married couple’s focus will vary based on their financial goals and situation. Generally, achievement of one objective will lead to another. For example, if you do not have an established credit rating, you should focus on getting your debt under control. Once your debt is manageable, you will be able to focus on saving, which leads to the opportunity to purchase a home, invest for the future, or achieve other financial goals. 2. What is the best way to resolve conflicts and disagreements about financial matters? Your marriage partnership is also a financial partnership and it’s…

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