"For Your Marriage"
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Resources and Contentfrom the USCCB
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Dating
Find solid advice for that exciting, joyful, and confusing experience called dating. Is this person worth pursuing? How do I go about dating well? How do I know if he or she is “the one”? How can modern technology help or hurt forming relationships that last? Couples whose relationship is getting more serious may enjoy the Must Have Conversations section.Find Solid Advice
Getting Serious
When a dating relationship becomes more serious, it’s important to go deeper and talk about your family and childhood experiences, hopes for the future, what faith means to you, and so on. Marriage isn’t something to enter lightly, but it shouldn’t be feared. It’s wise to pray about and discern where your relationship is headed. The content here can help you do that and can help lay a strong foundation for your future marriage.
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Engagement
You’re engaged – congratulations! What a joyful and exciting time. When you were dating, you probably had heart-to-heart conversations about many things. Now that you’ve taken a definitive step toward the Sacrament of Marriage, it’s important to delve into topics that will impact your lives together. This happens mainly in formal marriage preparation classes or meetings with your priest, but there are also great conversation starters here on this site. For more information about making your wedding day beautiful and meaningful, check out Planning a Catholic Wedding. Engagement is also a great time to learn about Natural Family Planning!
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Planning a Catholic Wedding
Planning a wedding is both exciting and stressful. Couples getting married in the Catholic Church know that their wedding day is much more than getting the right flowers or venue, but those practical details can get in the way of a focus on the couple’s faith and trust in God’s love in the sacrament. If you’ve had your wedding planned since the fourth grade – or if you’re at a loss for where to start – this information will help answer questions you have about Catholic weddings, and give you practical ways to keep God, your faith, and love at the center of the big day.
For Brides To be
Catholic speaker, Youtuber, and author, Emily Wilson, has created this 10-part series offering practical guidance on many rarely discussed topics you will navigate during your engagement. The focus of this program is to nourish your soul as a bride-to-be in your season of engagement. Enjoy 15% off your purchase of the program by using the link provided!
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Newlyweds
You’re married; the adventure has begun! The first few years of marriage are about building and strengthening your new family, which began the moment you said “I do.” Pope Francis says that newly married couples should be helped “to enrich and deepen their conscious and free decision to have, hold and love one another for life” (Amoris Laetitia, no. 217). The content here will help newlyweds grow closer together, navigate challenges that are common in the first few years of marriage, and grow more confident in their vocation to share God’s love with all those around them.See Content
Sexuality & Conjugal Love
The Church gives us a great gift in her teaching on sexuality and conjugal love (the embodied love of husband and wife in marriage). Our faith calls every couple to a love that is full, total, faithful and fruitful: open to God, each other, and the gift of children. There are always challenges for couples in trying to live this out this beautiful vision. In this section, you’ll find an in-depth look at married love and intimacy, together with practical advice in living marriage well.
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Enriching Your Marriage
Every relationship needs attention and care to thrive, and marriage is no different. Couples sometimes run on autopilot for months or even years, caught up in the daily tasks of creating a home together, working, caring for children, and serving others. The good news is that there are a million and one ways to nurture your relationship: intentional couple-time, learning more about your mission as a married couple, growing in communication skills, etc. No effort is wasted; your love is worth investing in!
Enrich Your Marriage
Overcoming Adversity
Every married couple will hit road bumps in their life together. Some are fairly easy to overcome with skills and habits of listening and respect; others take much time, effort, prayer, and professional help. Don’t lose hope! God is with you and help is available, no matter what you are facing. Take courage, and trust that through the challenges you face, the Lord will be there. Here you’ll find articles and a list of common adversities that married couples and families face; each section has advice, encouragement, and real-life witness stories of facing these challenges.
The Later Years
Couples whose marriages last their whole lives are a gift to their families, the Church, and the world! They show that faithful, lifelong love is possible, giving hope to those around them. The elderly, who are often grandparents, have much wisdom to share, and deserve the care of their children and family members. You’ll find here book suggestions for couples in their later years, as well as advice for transitioning to an empty nest after actively raising children for many years.
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