Good Marriages Begin with True Love and Much Work

January 28, 2011 - 10:15 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

True love is a mutual gift shared between two people for their lifetime. Fortifying this love takes work but it is well worth it!

GLENVIEW, IL (January 28, 2011) - When engaged couples make plans to marry in the Catholic Church, they are asked to attend several different types of marriage preparation programs, and sometimes that even includes classes in Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes. While it may not seem worthwhile at the time, this preparation is a worthy investment of time and money before entering into a lifelong promise.

Of course, all who plan to marry expect and desire joy-filled marriages. Few couples would be willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding if they didn't expect the marriage to last! So it is important to take seriously these programs that teach and help prepare you for marriage. In contrast, entering the religious life requires much more careful and deliberate "vocational preparation," and the results speak for themselves. Far fewer priests and sisters jettison their religious vows than do married people. Many in the Catholic Church suggest that pre-marriage preparation ought to be much more vigorous, and the U.S. bishops have developed some initiatives to better catechize the faithful about the nature of marriage. Why is this?

We're Back - Greatest Meat on Earth

Society's Ideas of Marriage Not the Greatest

Because, believe it or not, young adults have already been on a steady marriage preparation diet since youth, and they are not always receiving healthy messages! This diet includes the experiences and influences of parents, siblings, friends, and general society. Young people have slowly and gradually absorbed attitudes and perceptions about marriage from these observations. They have observed the social and political wrangling with regard to marriage, including discussions about same sex unions, having children or not, contraception, divorce, cohabitation, and more. Marital attitudes develop from the positive or negative experiences around us. In addition, how well have young people absorbed the teachings about marriage from the Church?

If you are one of the many couples preparing for marriage at this time, just how ready are you? How well have you gotten to know each other during dating and courtship? Couples have to be able to see the mind and will of their beloved in order to love freely. Also, each person should be fully supportive and understanding of the other's key attitudes, beliefs, and views with regard to spirituality, faith, morals, and life in general. Communication is the key to discovering these thoughts, beliefs, expectations, dreams, and hopes. Couples need to learn how to merge world views smoothly and appreciatively.

Pray, Share Together

Have you learned how to pray together and share insights about your faith with each other? This is so important. Couples also need to learn how to forgive and ask for forgiveness. Humility is a necessary "marriageability" trait. Humor and laughter are other necessary ingredients for maintaining love. And it's good to have positive support systems (i.e., family, friends, church, community) in place that respect and value your principles.

Nobody really falls heads over heels into authentic love - rather it is a choice, and often only comes with hard work. Marriage is hard enough without today's "socially constructed" challenges: contraception, same sex unions, divorce, cohabitation, and moral relativism. This is why the U.S. bishops focused on these challenges in their recent pastoral letter on marriage. Don't let these distract you from loving authentically. Embrace the marriage preparation programs offered to you, which point the way to authentic love.

Let me close with the following keys to a happy marriage: these were stitched into a wedding quilt made by my good friend and maid of honor nearly 35 years ago! They are still pertinent today. Congratulations to those preparing for marriage and to those celebrating anniversaries this month. May God bless your new - and older - marriages as you strive to love each other more and more and more authentically through the years
ahead.

Free RCIA classes for Students and Catechists from Catholic Online School

Keys to a Happy Marriage

• 2 hearts full of love
• 2 cups of joy
• 2 heaping cups of kindness
• 2 big hearts full of forgiveness
• 2 armfuls of gentleness
• 2 cups of friendship
• 2 minds full of tenderness
• 1 lifetime of togetherness

Stir daily with happiness, humor, and patience. Serve with warmth and compassion, respect and loyalty.

* * *
Linda Kracht and her husband, Dave, are a Teaching Couple of the Couple to Couple League (CCL), and live in St. Paul, MN. Linda is the Chairman of CCL's Board. The above article is from the January-February 2011 issue of "Family Foundations," the publication of the Couple to Couple League International. CCL is the leading organization providing Natural Family Planning (NFP) instruction in the United States.

Natural Family Planning Classes Taught

Classes in Natural Family Planning sponsored by the Couple to Couple League (CCL) are taught in 17 locations in the Chicago metro area, including southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. The next series of classes will begin Friday, Feb. 4, at Holy Family Hospital, 100 North River Road, Des Plaines IL, taught by Matthew and Anne McClure.

Classes will also begin Sunday, Feb. 6th, 2011, at 1:30 pm, at Resurrection Medical Center, 7435 West Talcott Avenue, Chicago IL, taught by Dave and Mona Cattapan.

To register, and for a list of classes throughout the U.S., go to CCL International at www.ccli.org, (800) 745-8252. Chicago area NFP information is at www.naturalfamilyplanningchicago.com.

The method taught is the Sympto-Thermal Method, which is also taught via CylePRO software. Sign up for a membership with the Couple to Couple League International at www.ccli.org, and receive "Family Foundations."

Contact

Couple to Couple League of Chicago
http://www.naturalfamilyplanningchicago.com
IL, 60025 US
Monica Cassidy - , (800) 745-8252

Keywords

marriage, preparation, engaged, couple,league,Chicago,il,Illinois,nfp,ccl Natural,family,planning

Category

Catholic Organizations

We ask you, humbly, to help.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,177

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérčse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

Download 100's of Prayers for free

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »