Marriage prep begins at home, Bishop Conley says

Last updated on: September 19, 2014 at 1:33 pm by CNA Daily News

Marriage prep begins at home, Bishop Conley says 2014-09-19T13:33:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lincoln, Neb., Sep 19, 2014 / 07:33 am (CNA).- Preparation for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony begins with family life in the home long before a couple has met, said Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Neb., and this fact cannot be overlooked in addressing the prevalence of divorce.

“I’ve learned in nearly thirty years of ministry, that no priest can adequately prepare a couple for marriage in the months he spends with them before the wedding,” he said in a Sept. 19 column for CNA. “Real preparation for marriage begins in the home – in the witness of loving and married parents who embrace the holy vocation of family life.”

Although the priest’s duty in counseling a couple seeking marriage in the Church is to help them “embrace the sacrificial call of marriage” and to “reject the lies of the world about false relationships” – namely, contraception, divorce, cohabitation and “trial marriage,” the priest only has a few months with them, whereas a person’s family has years with them.

Formation as a faithful spouse – and formation for any vocation – begins in the home where the child is “taught to believe in the merciful and trustworthy God.”

He noted that many people today come from broken homes where such love is not modeled, making it difficult for a priest to convey the importance and sanctity of marriage in a short amount of time before a couple is married.

“Broken families beget more broken families, broken marriages beget more broken marriage,” Bishop Conley said.

Next month’s Synod of Bishops in Rome will focus on matters of family life. Leading up to the event, much attention has been given in the media and commentaries to the situation of divorced and remarried Catholics.

Bishop Conley said that divorce is a “symptom of the culture of death” and that if we wish to prevent it, the Church needs to address both family life and marriage preparation.

“In short, if we want to overcome the culture of death, we must do it by attacking the problem at the root – by allowing Jesus Christ to heal families.”

Bishop Conley hopes that the upcoming synod will “help families encounter Jesus Christ” no matter what their situation and that it will encourage pastors to examine marriage and family life “as seriously as the Church prepares young men for priesthood, or young men and women for consecrated life.”

“In the midst of broken families, it is the Church who must shoulder much of the responsibility for preparing couples to embrace the cross of married life,” he said.

Closing with a quote from Pope Francis’ homily at the marriage of 20 couples at the Vatican last week, Bishop Conley reminded readers that families are the “bricks” that make up society.

To read the full column, click here.

Previous Post

September 19, 2014

Catholic CrossFit gym lifts Colo. priests

Next Post

September 19, 2014 Priest hopes papal visit will nurture fledgling Albanian Church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How did Saul first offend God as king?

Select your answer to see how you score.

He offered sacrifices himself He defeated the Philistines He took the Ark He built an idol