April 1, 2020

Do you like April Fools’ Day pranks…or do they unsettle you? Learning your own temperament, and that of your spouse, can help avoid behaving in a way that’s natural to you but that bothers your spouse. It can also be an opportunity for both of you to grow.

March 31, 2020

“Praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength!” (Pope Francis) Do you pray the rosary as a family? Try it!

March 30, 2020

March 29, 2020

“And Jesus wept.” (Jn 11:45) Such meaning for so short a verse! Spouses share in each other’s joys…and sorrows. Don’t be afraid to weep together when heartbreaking things happen. Jesus showed his love for Lazarus through his tears.

March 28, 2020

Would your spouse describe you as a good listener? If you’re not sure, humbly seek out their opinion, and be willing to grow.

March 27, 2020

“Marriage…is to be a school for nurturing gratitude.” (USCCB, Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan) How do you foster gratitude in your marriage? Try coming up with three things every night to be grateful for. Add them to a “gratitude journal” and count your blessings!

March 26, 2020

If you want someone to change, encouragement is more effective than criticism. Look for one thing about your spouse or child’s behavior that you can compliment today. Although easier with pre-schoolers, perhaps sending an older child an e-mail or text would work. Kiss your spouse.

March 25, 2020

In the midst of the penance and purple of Lent, a feast of such good news! “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,” the angel tells Mary. Couples who await their own “annunciation” bear a heavy burden. Pray for them today, and thank God for the gift of your children if you are so blessed.

March 24, 2020

Fighting Fair Tip: Avoid the kitchen sink. This doesn’t mean you can’t argue in the kitchen but rather, keep to the topic. Don’t bring up “everything but the kitchen sink.”

March 23, 2020

As Easter approaches, RCIA candidates are preparing for the sacraments. Pray for any future Catholics you know or introduce yourself to your parish’s candidates so you can pray for them and welcome them into the Church this Easter.

March 22, 2020

“Not as man does God see…the Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7) Do you look into your spouse’s heart? Do you let them look into yours? Cherish the opportunity to go beyond appearances with the one you love.

March 21, 2020

Do you find yourself giving your spouse the “dregs” of your time? Whatever your life circumstances, making time for one another is an ongoing challenge. Try taking a good hard look at how you spend your time: what could be cut out? Could you “schedule in” your spouse more often?

March 20, 2020

March 20 marks the Spring Equinox. With the beginning of Spring our earth renews itself. Learn something new about your spouse today – no matter how long you’ve been married.

March 19, 2020

Saint Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten families. – Pope John Paul II

March 18, 2020

Don’t let the “terrible trifles” eat away at your marriage. If the kind of toilet paper is important to your wife, don’t fight it. If your husband likes to buy in bulk to save money, it may be an annoyance but not the hill you want to die on. Try to find the good in your spouse’s actions.

March 17, 2020

Parents-in-law can be a great support both practically and emotionally to a young married couple, but the negative jokes and stereotypes about in-laws aren’t created out of thin air. If there’s in-law tension in your marriage, talk about boundaries and always treat your spouse’s parents with respect.

March 15, 2020

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Ps 95:8) Do you harden your heart against God, or against your spouse? Pray today for a tenderness of heart toward your spouse, even when he or she repeats an annoying habit.

March 14, 2020

A meal is a holy thing to share. Who cooks, prepares the table, or cleans up in your family? Is one of you very nutrition conscious and the other not? It doesn’t have to be gourmet to be healthy and delicious. Who talks the most? Who leads a prayer? Share it all.

March 13, 2020

Did you know that there are many married saints? If you’re not familiar with any, do some research. You might start with reading about St. Thomas More, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. Gianna Molla.

March 12, 2020

Pope Francis asked married couples: “How are things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family?” How would you answer the Pope? He said that true joy “comes from a profound harmony between persons.”

March 11, 2020

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Do you need to ask forgiveness from your spouse? Maybe you need to offer it. If there’s nothing recent to forgive, forgive someone you’ve been holding a grudge against.

March 10, 2020

Are you, or someone you know, in a troubled marriage? You don’t have to live with the pain; there are people to help you work toward a better marriage. Many couples have worked their way back to satisfying and stronger marriages. Check out The Third Option or Retrouvaille for starters.

March 8, 2020

Just as Jesus was transfigured and appeared gloriously to Peter, James, and John (Mk 9: 2-10) so too love for your spouse can bring out the best in the other. Recall for a moment your wedding day and the wonder of seeing each other clothed in splendor.

March 7, 2020

“In a family you don’t have to look very far to find your cross,” a father observes in Follow the Way of Love. Who in your family seems to have a mission to purify YOU today, to teach you patience, or to challenge you? What cross do you bring to the others in your family?

March 6, 2020

Share a childhood memory. Who was your best friend, or your favorite subject in school? What seemed like a crisis at the time but you were eventually able to overcome or forget? Talk it over.

March 5, 2020

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (Jn 12:24) Has anyone close to you died who has enriched your life? Loss is always hard, but having a spouse to share it with makes it bearable.

March 4, 2020

Married couples are the ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage to each other. How do you minister to each other in your daily life? Don’t forget to pray for all the graces of your sacrament!

March 3, 2020

Resist the urge to buy something new this week. Have each person in the family pick one possession to give away during Lent. Consider gently-used toys, books, or hand-me-downs that need to find a new home.

March 2, 2020

You’ve probably already decided what you are giving up or doing for Lent, but have you thought of how you can observe Lent with your spouse? Here are some ideas to get you started. https://www.foryourmarriage.org/getting-ready-for-lent/

March 1, 2020

“Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” (Ps 51:3) On this first Sunday of Lent, make plans to go to confession as a family sometime during Lent. Frequenting the Sacrament of Penance is a great “practice run” for asking forgiveness from your spouse.