Two weeks ago our crack team of married couples here at Holy Trinity met with 18 couples planning weddings over the next ten months. It’s called Pre-Cana (Cana, the town where Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding reception). It was a fun day, a learning day for all of us.
Each year it’s a privilege for me to get to know these young couples on a personal basis. This time the team couples were struck by the attention and focus these young people brought to the sessions.
The talks were meant to cover the spectrum of early mar-riage experience: Communication, First Years of marriage (The Honeymoon is Over!), God and you: an unfinished story, Intimacy and Sexuality, and When Problems Arise.
The discussions were warm and honest and filled with laughter. I hope they experienced not only helpful infor-mation about “best marriage practices”, but at the same time experienced a community of faith (HT) that wants them to succeed in their married life and be a support to them in the years ahead.
That being said, what advice did we hear that indicates you’ve found Mr. or Ms. Right? Here’s a list.
See what you think.
- My fiancé believes in God. Their belief makes a dif-ference in how they live. They are happy to go to Mass with me.
- My fiancé believes in heaven and wants to go
there. - My honey bun loves me more than all his/her golf- ing/football/shopping friends combined (I mean, there’s no contest here . . . I’m #1).
- I really like my fiancé’s family.
- My fiancé can say “I’m sorry” and really mean it.
- Mr./Ms. Right keeps little promises; like calling you when they said they would.
- My fiancé does not watch pornography. (Pornography is poison to a marriage.)
- My fiancé likes to talk to me. We enjoy conversation.
- Touching him/her brings comfort and peace and joy.
- My fiancé loves the thought of having children.
- My fiancé has never made me afraid.
Now, no one is perfect. So your fiancé may not score 100 on this little unofficial list (you probably didn’t either!). However, you get the point of all this, right? The point is there are signs that someone is ready to step up and be the faithful loving partner for life that you deserve. How many of these signs does your sweetheart show you?
So, young people, we pray for you and for the decisions you will make about your life’s partner. You too should be praying . . . “Lord, show me your will for me. If I am to marry (and Lord, I DO want to marry), show me the one your providence puts before me. Speak to me, Lord.”
Don’t be afraid. Your heart, guided by prayer, will show you.
God bless us all
Fr. Tim
