Saving Catholic Marriages

“The Catholic Church saved my marriage and, quite possibly, my life.” So begins David Anders in this remarkably forthright book. In it, David reports that by the early 2000s, his marriage was so painful he actually longed for death. It wasn’t simple incompatibility; he and his wife had just one thing in common: contempt for each other. Today, David and his wife are happy together – not because of marriage therapy, but because they came to know and fully embraced the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage. Many people who encounter such teachings are shocked by their rigor. Yet the Church offers much more than rules about sexual restraint; she offers a way to make marriage into something supernatural, even mystical. Here Dr. Anders shares his personal discovery of the Church’s teaching on marriage and offers a robust defense of the Church’s most controversial teachings, including divorce, remarriage, gay marriage, and contraception. With the Church’s teachings and the writings of the saints as his guide, he also offers practical, time-tested ways to improve your marriage, such as how to live in peace despite an unhappy marriage, the value of suffering, and ways to overcome your reluctance to forgive grave offenses. In a culture that breaks apart marriages and undermines human dignity, Dr. David Anders offers a hope-filled alternative for those who live moral and spiritual lives in union with Christ and His Church.

Did you know that Catholic marriage is different from other marriages? Christ gave His Church the recipe to have a healthy, happy and holy marriage. When we follow the divine recipe, we have an amazingly strong marriage built on living real love for our spouse in a home filled with peace and understanding. But, when we change ingredients here and there, we end up with the wrong recipe, resulting in pain and frustration. Jesus' words of wisdom can help. If you are dating but have not found the right person, our book will help you find the kind of spouse who wants to live the divine recipe and grow in love with you as Jesus intends If you are engaged, our book will help you and your future spouse make the changes in your relationship that will serve you well in the years to come, so that you begin to live your love as Jesus intended If you have been married many years, grappling with the same issues, yet desire resolution together with the peace and happiness you had hoped for, you have the answer in your hands Over the years, while preparing couples for marriage, many couples have remarked to us, "Wow, I wish my parents knew the things you're teaching us. They are good parents, but I'm not sure they are very happy. You have shown us a better way. Thank You."

OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD! With this updated edition of their award-winning book, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott help you launch lifelong love like never before. This is more than a book--it's an experience, especially when you use the his/her workbooks filled with more than 40 fun exercises. Get ready for deeper intimacy with the best friend you'll ever have. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, which has been translated into more than 15 languages, is the most widely used marriage prep tool in the world. Why? Because it will help you . . . Uncover the misbeliefs of marriage Learn to communicate with instant understanding Discover the secret to resolving conflict Master the skills of money management Get your sex life off to a great start A compelling video, featuring real-life couples, is available, and with this updated edition, Les and Leslie unveil the game-changing SYMBIS Assessment. Now you can discover how to leverage your personalities for a love that lasts a lifetime. Make your marriage everything it is meant to be. Save your marriage--before (and after) it starts.

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.

Nearly all couples experience seasons of relational stress. But as clinical psychologist David Hawkins shows, these times are predictable and manageable. In fact, they can even lead to positive changes and renewed growth. This easy-to-read handbook highlights important warning signals, helping readers avoid many serious consequences of relational trouble. Couples will discover how to call a truce, create stability, and reestablish trust. They'll also learn to... explore the causes of conflict, including longstanding patterns and recent trauma humbly and honestly commit to the process of change eliminate barriers to growth, such as denial, shortcuts, and simplistic solutions identify and build on good things in the relationship develop new skills for communication and conflict resolution Packed with biblical wisdom and practical information from the counseling office, 10 Lifesavers for Every Couple affirms the value of marriage and empowers couples to grow through their times of crisis.

When Ronda Chervin's son, Charles, ended his own life, he did so believing that it is pointless to endure inevitable suffering. In the wake of Charles's death, Dr. Chervin set out to discover some of the most basic - but all too often misunderstood - answers to why God allows us to suffer, and how we can bear it with perseverance and hope. She shares her discoveries in these pages, helping you understand that while there is no escape from pain, pain itself is the road into the heart of Christ where peace can be found. You'll be given encouragement and practical advice as you explore afflictions such as failure, fear, frustration, loneliness, loss, marital problems, physical pain, fatigue, and temptation. Dr. Chervin explains each affliction in detail and offers reflections on the lives of saints who suffered from the very same cross. Throughout each chapter you're given practical suggestions on how you can meet Christ in your particular pain. You'll draw wisdom from the lives and writings of saints who were addicted, depressed, exhausted, raped, and unhappily married. And among these saints, you'll discover within their responses a pattern that you can ponder and imitate. Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering will bring courage and hope that in Christ and in communion with his saints, you can - and will - triumph over every kind of adversity. You'll also learn: How you can overcome the pain associated with loneliness and isolationFive ways to overcome doubts about the FaithFour steps to liberation from the suffering of indecisionFive ways to meet Christ in the suffering of exploitationWhat St. Benedict teaches us about failure - and how it changed the worldHow to cope with failure and povertyFive ways you can transform fear into trust in ChristHow you can turn frustrations and anger into a Christian spiritHow you can respond in a holy way to marital discord, demanding spouses, physical abuse, psychological abuse, abandonment, and rageFour ways you can turn to Christ in times of temptation

Every couple hopes to have a happy marriage. Why then do so few reach this goal? Author John Bosio believes that it is only achievable when God and faith are part of the mix. Here he offers couples a blueprint for happiness based on the wisdom of the Christian Tradition. He challenges couples to overcome selfishness by learning to love each other as Christ loves. He identifies and focuses on six key aspects of a loving marriage, and he uses stories and examples to illustrate each. This is a wonderful, open, realistic, and encouraging book about marriage. Highly recommended for married couples, engaged couples, and marriage enrichment groups.