July 31, 2010

“Getting married is the boldest and most idealistic thing that most of us will ever do.” (Maggie Gallagher, The Case for Marriage) Are there any dreams that you had on your wedding day that you now consider unrealistic? What’s one thing that has turned out better than expected?

Its mission

From On the Family The family finds in the plan of God the Creator and Redeemer not only its identity, what it is, but also its mission, what it can and should do.

Fidelity to their vocation

From On the Family Christian couples have the right to expect from celibate persons a good example and witness of fidelity to their vocation until death.

July 30, 2010

Which best fits your marriage: “Birds of a feather flock together” or “Opposites attract”? In other words, is it easier to be married to a person who is similar to you or different from you? How are you most alike? How different?

Do the Two of You Have the Same Moral Compass?

Decisions of value and conscience – such as how to raise your children– greatly affect a marriage. Do you and your spouse share the same morals?

New Marriage Prep Program Debuts

Couples in the “Fully Engaged” marriage-preparation program developed by the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn., and fully initiated there at this start of this year typically meet four or more times with a trained mentor or mentor-couple to discuss key issues in married life. “The mission of ‘Fully Engaged’ is to help engaged couples solidify [...]

Perseverance: Love Never Ends

Every couple has times when they are disillusioned, angry, depressed, tired, or just plain ready to give up. Why do some couples persevere and others give up trying to make things work? Read about the three things that persevering couples have in common.

Forgiveness Fundamentals

Couples often find it easy to slide into conflict, but not so easy to forgive and reconcile with each other. How can spouses learn to forgive and move beyond the hurts caused by conflict? Here are seven “forgiveness fundamentals” that will help you to get started.

Loves and Misses

I love babies; I always have.  I love how perfectly peaceful they look when they sleep.  I love the dozens of faces they make while they’re dreaming.  I love wondering what they could possibly be dreaming about at such a young age.  I love their tiny noses, fingers, and eyelashes.  I love their chubby cheeks [...]

A Community of Love: Spirituality of Family Life

Marriage and family life are interwoven themes in this book by theologian David M. Thomas, who challenges parents and other family members to learn to recognize God’s presence in the most ordinary circumstances of their daily life together.

We do not live alongside on another purely by chance

From The Human Family, A Community of Peace Message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Day of Peace 2008 We do not live alongside on another purely by chance; all of us are progressing along  a common path as men and women, and thus as brothers and sisters.

July 29, 2010

If you could give an engaged couple just one piece of advice to strengthen their marriage, what would it be? Do you practice what you preach?

July 28, 2010

“Romance is a process – it’s not an event. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s not something that’s ‘accomplished’ and then forgotten.” (Gregory J.P. Godek, 1001 Ways to Be Romantic) Think of one romantic way you can express your love for your spouse today.

Our competitive culture

From Follow the Way of Love Our competitive culture tends to promote aggressiveness and struggles for power. …Marriage must never become a struggle for control.

Carried by Prayer

Two weeks ago on Josh’s birthday we learned that his grandfather had died. On his birthday. In Iowa.

Joshua is the first grandchild on this side of the family and we are all very close. There was no way he couldn’t be there. I was hoping that I would get to join him as well. Then – we saw the airline prices.

Earthly Dearest

Even though I don’t have a lot of free time, it is more important than ever for me to remember to pray throughout my day and to offer up in service to God every seemingly mundane task done in service to my “earthly dearest”—my son and my husband.

Respect and value each other’s gifts

From Follow the Way of Love A couple who accepts their equality… will honor and cherish one another. They will respect and value each other’s gifts and uniqueness.

July 27, 2010

Most couples are busy and don’t have enough quality time together, but sometimes we need time by ourselves, too. Take five minutes today to sit in silence.

July 26, 2010

Parting and coming together again can be mini-reminders to love the person to whom you pledged your life. Do you have a custom to kiss or hug at these times? If it has become routine, bring a special consciousness to it today.

The guarantors of affection

From Address of Pope Benedict XVI at the Fifth World Meeting of Families [Grandparents] can be–and so often are–the guarantors of the affection and tenderness which every human being needs to give and receive.

If aught but death separates me from you

Wherever you die I will die and there be buried. May the Lord do so and so to me, and more besides if aught but death separates me from you!   Ruth 1:17

July 25, 2010

“A successful marriage is one in which you fall in love many times many times, always with the same person.” (D.W. McLaughlin) Don’t look for love outside your marriage. As you change and grow, develop a new interest, hobby or skill together to keep your relationship fresh.

Restoring to marriage its original meaning and beauty

From Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan In restoring to marriage its original meaning and beauty, Jesus proclaims what the Creator meant marriage to be “in the beginning.”

Is Divorce Contagious?

A new study, provocatively titled “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Unless Everyone Else Is Doing It Too,” described divorce as to some extent contagious. Are you at risk?

If marriage is crucial

From Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan If marriage is crucial to society on a natural level, it is also crucial to the Church on the supernatural level.