A Catholic Handbook For Engaged And Newly Married Couples

In this practical guide to marriage, learn the “secrets” of building a sound, spiritual relationship with your fiancé or spouse—from toothpaste in the sink to natural family planning. In the Foreword, Father Kenneth Baker praises the book as both practical and faithful: "This handbook is outstanding both for its practicality and for its fidelity to the Catholic faith. It is practical because it offers good suggestions on most aspects of married life, such as the wedding, the honeymoon, the relationship between husband and wife, in-laws, finances, raising children, sexual relations, practicing the faith, and developing a spiritual life of personal relations with God. The handbook is also thoroughly Catholic. It offers excellent advice on how to live the Catholic faith as a married man or woman. There is no waffling here, no dissent, no ambiguity. The author spells out clearly what the Catholic Church expects of married people in the areas of married life, sexuality, and family life."

In this practical guide to marriage, learn the "secrets" of building a sound spiritual relationship with your fiance or spouse--from toothpaste in the sink to natural family planning.

Joined by Grace introduces engaged and newly married couples to the rich traditions of Catholic prayer: how Catholics pray, texts of our most commonly used prayers, and a primer on devotions. A warm invitation to the faith and a simple approach to Catholicism, Joined by Grace is a book for beginners and those who want to know more about Catholic prayer life. The book offers guidance about the ways to pray, background information on prayers and devotions, and simple how-to-instructions. Family members and friends, as well as pastors, mentor couples, and others working in marriage ministries will find this a perfect gift for engaged and newly married couples. Couples can learn how to pray spontaneously, offer thanks and praise, petition God, and express sorrow. There is guidance on blessings, praying with scripture, and liturgical prayer. The book also can be used to learn common Catholic prayers such as the Our Father, Doxology, and Hail Mary. Beyond the most essential Catholic prayers, the book offers insight and instruction for participating in the great devotions of the Church such as the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the Angelus, and Eucharistic Adoration. The last part of the book offers meditations on the seven sacraments as conduits of grace in our everyday lives.

Written by a Catholic laywoman and a Catholic priest, this book looks at both the underlying theology and practical approaches to the Catholic wedding.

Drawing on his experience of forty years as a psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons presents twelve habits that can foster healing and growth in Catholic marriages. This books helps couples to identify and resolve the major emotional conflicts that weaken their relationships and hurt their marriages. Habits for a Healthy Marriage is unique because it draws on the field of positive psychology, which focuses on growth in virtues. Each chapter names a common marital problem along with a particular virtue that can help couples to overcome that problem. It shows that the road to healing is paved with forgiveness, not only between spouses but also within their families of origin. Along the way the author incorporates the luminous writing of Saint John Paul II on marriage and the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church. Whether you are newly engaged, recently married, or married for many years, the conflict-resolving strategies described in this book—the habits of a healthy marriage—can help you to protect your relationship from the emotional storms that often lead to quarrelling and mistrust, and sometimes to separation and divorce.

The classic Catholic marriage manual used by over 3 million engaged and newly married couples has been updated and revised for the twenty-first century. Written in a breezy, accessible style, Beginning Your Marriage is used by dioceses and parishes throughout the world as a basic text for marriage preparation. It offers a comprehensive, insightful presentation from a Catholic perspective of the issues central to the institution and sacrament of marriage, including love, fidelity, relationships, communication, sexuality, parenting, finances, religion, spirituality and commitment. The new Ninth Edition of this classic marriage preparation and enrichment resource pays special tribute to contemporary social and religious concerns, including cohabitation before marriage, family of origin and interfaith marriage. Blended families, infertility, two-income households and inter-ethnic marriage are also considered. Engaged couples, students in family life courses, and newly married couples have all used this book to deepen their understanding of marriage and the richness of life that is possible for a husband and wife.

Author of the bestselling book, Happy Together, John Bosio draws from his experience as a family therapist and committed believer to provide a path for a loving marriage inspired by the Beatitudes. He offers couples both theological grounding and inspiration as they seek to strengthen their marriage committment.

Marriage in the Lord: Forming Couples for a Sacramental Marriage provides marriage ministers with fully prepared formation sessions in order to facilitate discussion with engaged couples preparing to be married in the Catholic Church in a dynamic and meaningful way.