Robert Quillen wrote, “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”   

A good marriage is based on forgiveness, trust and love.  And the sacrament of marriage…is a total giving and sharing by each spouse so that the line between “his” and “hers” disappears into only “ours.”

de Sales, “Nothing in this world can satisfy the person who is not first satisfied with God.”  Each of us married or single, ordained or lay, are called to focus our lives on doing God’s will! 

Our relationship with the Lord is the most important relationship in our lives. For those of us who married -- our relationship with our spouse is next in importance.  Each relationship we have with another human being should bring us closer to God.        

In the book of Genesis, we read “… a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and the two of them become one flesh.”

We are all aware of the high divorce rate and how painful the break up of a marriage is - - too many times people are married without the vocational call to marriage.  Without a mature understanding and commitment to the hard work and sacrifice needed to make a marriage successful.

Married life – Family life is under attack in our Nation and those of us who are married have a special responsibility to our family, our Church and our nation to live a life centered on loving God.

Whether married or single we can listen to and act on the words of de Sales: “I see good in you and am happy for your sake. I choose and act to make your goodness grow for your sake.” 

 

Or those of Thomas Merton, “… love seeks one thing, only the good of the one loved…Love, therefore, is its own reward.”

 

For a few minutes reflect on The Art of Marriage (Anonymous)

A good marriage must be created.

In the marriage, the little things are the big things…

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together and facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is not only marrying the right person. 

It is being the right partner.

May God Be Praised!