A few thoughts on Marriage!

Married love and fidelity are part of God’s original plan, part of Jesus’ Kingdom. Robert Quillen wrote, “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”  A good marriage is based on forgiveness, trust and love.  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.”

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.  If you are married then, your relationship with your spouse is next in importance.  Each relationship we have with another human being should bring us closer to God.

The Art of Marriage

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.  [Anonymous]

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.” 

You’re 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 we must all pray for family life and married love and fidelity in our land.

 

Whether you are married or not you can listen to and act on the words of St. Francis 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 Thomas Milton, “… love seeks one thing, only the good of the one loved… Love, therefore, is its own reward.”  But our starting point is loving of God, de Sales, “Nothing in this world can satisfy the person who is not first satisfied with God.”  So let’s love God and pray for those called to the vocation of Marriage.

May God Be Praised!