The Sacrament of Marriage is a lifelong collaboration with God to bring life and grace to the world through married love. This page offers resources for couples to evaluate and strengthen their relationship, continuing to water the seeds of their âI do.â
Formation in the Sacrament of Marriage is truly a lifelong project. The decision to say âI doâ is made, again and again, remembering and renewing the decision initially made on the altar before Christ and His Church. Each day, we renew our commitment to love our beloved the way Christ loves us. We allow the grace of the Sacrament to continue molding and shaping us into becoming the persons that God made us be, getting closer to heaven in the process.
All couples experience ups and downs in their relationship. Through the ups and downs, however, it is critical for couples to continue watering the seeds of their âI doâ, to evaluate and monitor the state of their relationship, and to commit to being better husbands and wives on a regular basis. For couples with serious relational challenges, know that with Godâs grace, healing is possible. In fact, research has shown that a large percentage of unhappy marriages become happy again.
Please review the marriage enrichment resources below to see whatâs right for you. Most of these resources listed can be completed by a couple on their own or in a group format in a home or parish setting.
For Your Marriage helps couples at all stages of life to understand and live Godâs plan for happy, holy marriages by providing educational and spiritual resources.
The website was launched in 2007 as part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to communicate the meaning and value of married life for the Church and for society.
The Choice Wine: 7 Steps to a Superabundant Marriage is a 9 session, interactive marriage enrichment experience that can done by couples on their own, or with other couples in a Home Group or at the parish. A retreat version is also available to accommodate the need for a weekend timeframe. Click here to get started.
In 12 sessions, BELOVED uncovers the mystery and the meaning of the sacrament of marriage, inviting all couples to experience firsthand the wonder, mystery, and joy behind that first âI doâ⊠whether you said it last year or many years ago. The Complete Beloved Series is 12 episodes/sessions and focuses on the foundation and theology of the Sacrament of Marriage in The Mystery and Meaning of Marriage (6 episodes) and the practical life skills and virtues needed for a successful marriage in Living Marriage (6 episodes). The series can be done individually by a couple or at a parish in a group or retreat setting.
Dr. Gary Chapman presents a simple truth: relationships grow better when we understand each other. Everyone gives and receives love differently, but with a little insight into these differences, we can be confidently equipped to communicate love well. This is true for all forms of relationship â for married or dating couples, for children and teenagers, for friends and coworkers, for long-distance relationships, for those brand-new loves and for the romances that are older than the hills. Click here to learn more.
Happy-Together.net, by John and Teri Bosio, provides a wealth of books and programs aimed to strengthen and support couples in living out the Sacrament of Marriage. One of their most popular resources, Six Dates for Catholic Couples, can be used individually by couples at home or by a parish wishing to offer it as a community program to couples in the parish.
SmartLoving provides a range of online resources and courses devoted to strengthening and forming marriages. The courses are positive and solution oriented so that men and women feel encouraged and equipped to love their spouse in practical and intimate ways. Whatever season of marriage, Smart Loving sets couples up for success with practical strategies for emotional, sexual and spiritual happiness.
Civil Marriage Initiative
Witness to Love’s Civil Marriage Initiative provides an experience that is personal, inviting, timely, engaging and allows a space for growth and formation in the Sacrament of Marriage for couples in civil unions seeking convalidation in the Catholic Church. Civilly married couples are able to choose a mentor couple who will accompany them along the journey of formation towards the Sacrament. Civilly married couples, please share this with your priest or deacon so he can help you get started. Click here to learn more about Witness to Loveâs Civil Marriage Initiative.
The purpose of the REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment Inventory is to bring awareness to major aspects of a marriage at a certain point in time. Itâs a great âcheck inâ tool that any couple can take, score, and review, either on their own or through the direction of a trained facilitator. It can also be used as part of a weekend marriage retreat, or in five weekly evenings in which the general topical areas are discussed with other couples.
WWME San Diego is a weekend for married Christian couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. The emphasis is on communication between husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and the tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other. Every marriage deserves that kind of attention!
For English, please visit http://www.wwme-sandiego.org/. For Spanish, please visit encuentrosandiego.org.
10GreatDates.org provides a variety of books and DVD series to enrich your marriage, including 10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage, Connecting Faith, Love, and Marriage, and 10 Great Dates for Empty Nesters.
Do you feel lost, alone or bored in your marriage? Are you frustrated, hurt or angry with your spouse? Are you constantly fighting? Or, do you simply shut down? Have you thought about separation or divorce? Does talking about it only make it worse? What is the Retrouvaille Program?
The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6-12 post-weekend sessions over 3 months. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way.
CANA is a ministry of and for couples who desire to grow in their love and care for each other.  Through time alone as a couple and fellowship with others on the journey, CANA gatherings and retreats seek to be a place of refreshment, encouragement and renewal for both the couple and the individual.
sdcatholic.org
