Married Love Can Be Beautiful A Recipe for Happiness in Marriage

Marriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Marriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13,4). (Hebrews 13,4).

1. Priorities What is the most important value What is the most important value in your life? Family Family Work Work Hobby Hobby Making Money Making Money Career Career Continuing Education Continuing Education Volunteer work Volunteer work Being active in your parish Being active in your parish Business travel Business travel

All these things are important, but… All these things are important, but… Because of God and because of the faith, MARRIAGE becomes the most important value from the wedding day through the rest of your life !!!

Our marriage is a work of art. Our marriage is a work of art. Creation of a work of art from our marriage is our greatest task. Creation of a work of art from our marriage is our greatest task. Our marriage is the greatest pursuit of our lives Our marriage is the greatest pursuit of our lives The most important goal of our lives is the holiness of our marriage. The most important goal of our lives is the holiness of our marriage. Our marriage is our greatest investment. Our marriage is our greatest investment. Happy marriage- What we want most. Happy marriage- What we want most. The road to happiness in marriage is always under construction. The road to happiness in marriage is always under construction.

2. People Priorities Who is the most important person in your life? Who is the most important person in your life? Your child (children) Your child (children) Your parents Your parents Your siblings Your siblings Your friends at work Your friends at work Your parish priest Your parish priest Your friends from prayer group Your friends from prayer group

All these people are important, but… All these people are important, but… Because of God and because of the Faith, YOUR SPOUSE becomes the most important person from the wedding day through the rest of your life !!!

3. Nurturing Married Love Love and infatuation are two separate things: Infatuation does not depend on us. Love only depends on us. Infatuation does not depend on us. Love only depends on us. Infatuation is takings. Love is giving. Infatuation is takings. Love is giving. Infatuation is without God. Love is only with God. Infatuation is without God. Love is only with God.

3. Nurturing Married Love Love and infatuation are two separate things: Infatuation does not depend on us. Love only depends on us. Infatuation does not depend on us. Love only depends on us. Infatuation is takings. Love is giving. Infatuation is takings. Love is giving. Infatuation is without God. Love is only with God. Infatuation is without God. Love is only with God.

3. Nourishment of Married Love Words Words Assurances of love Compliments Talking about your feelings KindnessPoliteness My life without you would be meaningless. be meaningless.

B. Actions -Patience, kindness, gentleness -Hugs -Listening with empathy -Helpfulness -Help in work -Working together -Time -Long Walks -Watching TV together -Presents -Going out to the movies, dancing or dinner

C. Marriage Rituals ( repeated, important to both spouses) -Tender goodbyes -Loving welcomes -Talk and coffee -Texting each other every day -Shopping together -Praying together -Going to mass together

4. Holiness of the marriage bed (operating instructions) 1.Owning a bed. Its the most important piece of furniture in marriage. 2.Sleeping together 3.Going to bed at the same time 4.Couples prayer 5.Chemical and pollutant free.

5. Spiritual Foundation

Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said: Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (Mt 19, 4-6 ). Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (Mt 19, 4-6 ).

Couples Relationship with God Praying together – just you and your spouse Praying together – just you and your spouse Assisting at mass together Assisting at mass together Wearing your wedding band Wearing your wedding band Celebrating each wedding anniversary – renewal of marriage vows. Celebrating each wedding anniversary – renewal of marriage vows. Unceasing prayer for the spouse Unceasing prayer for the spouse Taking retreats together Taking retreats together

Stability of Marriages Living the Faith American sociologist Mercedes Arzu Wilson researched various unions and their permanence. American sociologist Mercedes Arzu Wilson researched various unions and their permanence. Civil union- one in two couples devorces -50%, Civil union- one in two couples devorces -50%, After a church wedding, without religious practices –one in three couples - 33%, After a church wedding, without religious practices –one in three couples - 33%, After a church wedding, with weekly Sunday mass attened together. – one in fifty- 2%, After a church wedding, with weekly Sunday mass attened together. – one in fifty- 2%, After a church wedding, with weekly Sunday mass attened together and daily couples prayer –one in 1429 couples, only 0,07%.. After a church wedding, with weekly Sunday mass attened together and daily couples prayer –one in 1429 couples, only 0,07%.. (Das Gebet, Schlüssel der Heiligkeit w: DER FELS (Katholisches Wort in der Zeit) 11/2002, s.325, Rycerz Niepokalanej, no 556, September 2002, pg. 289, Published in SPRAWACH RODZINY, no 63-64/2003, pg. 164 )