Is it right to fear God? What is the difference between a destructive fear and a “holy trepidation”? An Advent homily by Fr Stephen Wang: Look around you at the chapel walls. Look at the […]
Tag: marriage
Catholic Church in England and Wales releases prayer to assist those seeking St Valentine’s Day soulmate
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has published a new prayer to assist those who want to meet their soulmate. Timed to coincide with the celebration of St Valentine’s Day – a day annually […]
Marriage & Confirmation: new translations for the Catholic liturgy
The Sacraments of Confirmation and Marriage mark a new stage of life for those who receive them. The celebration of these sacraments are joyful occasions when families and friends come together to pray and give […]
From the synod: Final report sets new direction for Church
[From Austen Ivereigh in Rome] The synod’s final report, approved in its entirety by 265 voting members yesterday evening, has spelled out ways in which the Catholic Church across the world can both bolster the family and help […]
How to lead people into a deeper understanding of God’s plan for the family: Catholic catechesis and RCIA
I have loved watching and following the footage of Pope Francis in the US recently, and have been overjoyed to hear of conversions and graces coming from his visit. Such a blessed time for a […]
Summary of new norms governing nullity procedures & press conference
The Vatican has released the following English-language summaries of the two documents promulgated today by Pope Francis reforming canonical processes for the declaration of nullity of marriage, in the Code of Canon Law (CIC) and the Code […]
Overcoming the fear of commitment
It feels as if we are part of an epic biblical scene: Two great tribes have gathered together from the four corners of the continent, at the place where the plain meets the mountains, to […]
The meaning of marriage
I once saw an elderly couple being interviewed on television. It was the day of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They were sat awkwardly beside each other on a lumpy sofa in their living room. Heavily […]
A Guide to the Family Synod, Part 3: ‘The Gospel of the Family’
[The third in a series by Elizabeth Howard considering the questions that have been put to the world’s bishops’ conferences in the run-up to the Synod of Bishops in October. The previous posts are here and here.] Part II of the […]
Falling in love is not enough: the true meaning of marriage
I want you to imagine that you are on the top of Mount Nebo. This is where Moses is standing in the First Reading of the Mass today, surveying the Land that has been promised […]
Praying for your future spouse, and not just that you will find them
A thoughtful post from Esther Rich about why single people might pray for the person they will one day marry – even though they haven’t discovered who they are yet. And yes, she also deals […]
MA in Catholic Applied Theology (Marriage and Family)
With the Synod coming up, it’s a good time to advertise this MA on Marriage and Family at Maryvale. See the site here for more information, and the blurb copied below. This programme teaches the […]
Annulment reform: the synod’s first fruit
With cardinals who head the world’s major dioceses lining up against Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposals to provide a path back to the Eucharist for those who have entered new relationships after divorcing, reform is increasingly shifting to the sphere […]
The beauty and power of the Sacrament of Marriage: a new DVD resource for parishes, schools, catechetical groups and couples themselves
Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFE) have just published a marvelous new DVD about the Sacrament of Marriage. You can order it here. You can watch the trailer above, and read the blurb that follows: A TV quality […]
Do you want a ‘start-up’ marriage in your 20s or a ‘corporate merger’ marriage in your 30s or 40s?
Charles Murray dishes out some advice for young people. It includes looking at the difference between a “start-up”and a “merger” marriage, how to discern a soul-mate, and the importance of religious friends. (Full disclosure: I’m […]
‘Please God, find me a husband!’ A graphic novel about life, love and faith (and searching for a husband!) by Simone Lia
I can’t say I have read many graphic novels, but this is an extraordinary book. It tells the tale, as you would expect from the title, of Simone Lia’s search for a husband, and her […]
Marriage enrichment weekends coming up
Take a look at the SmartLoving website for details of some marriage enrichment weekends that are taking place over the next few months. Couples who stay successfully and happily married have made marriage their mission. […]
The Disciples’ Call: Theologies of Vocation from Scripture to the Present Day
A new book of essays about the theology of vocation, edited by Fr Christopher Jamison, published by Bloomsbury. Here is the publisher’s blurb: There is currently no shared language of vocation among Catholics in the […]
Marriage isn’t for you – it’s for the other person
Thought-provoking thoughts about marriage and love from Seth Adam Smith: Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me. Now before you start making […]
Communion for the remarried: clarification and speculation from Archbishop Gerhard Müller at the CDF
An important statement by the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation, the CDF, has reaffirmed existing church teaching on not admitting to the Eucharist Catholics who have remarried without first annulling their marriage. But in […]
Realising that our lives are not about us
Father Robert Barron has a brilliant article responding to the recent Time cover story, “The Childfree Life”. While Time empathises with women who feel “sidelined” and “scolded” by “a culture that often equates womanhood with motherhood”, Fr […]
