Marriage
The Catholic Church Provides A Blueprint for Happiness in Marriage
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"When I finally met the person that God wanted me to marry it was the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life. Like two rain drops that come together as one we are now a new entity that can never be separated back into our old individual selves. We both feel transformed and filled with the Holy Spirit. We’ve never felt happier and want everybody to be as happy as we are now. This is not just the person I will spend my life with. The possibilities for the future seem unlimited. Everything is so clear now. We don’t know exactly what it is, but we both feel like we are going to do great things in the future."
We chose the above quote because we feel it captures what most people hope to find in love and marriage, yet over half of all marriages fail? Have you ever known a couple that you thought were perfect for each other, and then found yourself stunned at the news of their divorce? Do you know people who get out of a bad relationship only to get into another bad relationship with almost the same type of person as before? Have you ever known two people who were totally wrong for each other, but they went ahead and got married anyway? Why do some people change so much after they get married? Have you ever known two people who were sexually attracted to each other and you knew were in Love, but they had a bad relationship? Maybe it takes more than great Love to make a great marriage?
Part of the problem is that the current culture validates looking for the wrong things. The “attraction first” approach is often preferred to the “values first” approach. It is also important to point out that physical attraction is important. The Catholic Church teaches that a husband and wife should be more attracted to each other than any other person. The key point is that even sexuality is better in the "values first" approach because the two people are sharing an incredible depth of intimacy. Special moments in a relationship should be the norm, not the exception.
The Catholic Church's teachings on marriage aren't just a bunch of bureaucratic rules designed to keep us in line. That teaching is, in the truest sense, a blueprint for happiness. Following the Church's teaching encourages spouses to respect each other. It helps them to love each other better. It protects them from the creeping selfishness that tears at the fabric of marriage.
One of the best places to better understand these issues surrounding happiness, marriage, and God's plan is the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope John Paul II called:
Familiaris Consortio - On the Family |
