Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 9:16am

PopeWatch: Amoris Laetitia-the Lean Version-Part 8

PopeWatch2-199x300-199x300

 

Part 8 of our stripped down look at Amoris Laetitia with some commentary by PopeWatch:

211.  More on marriage prep.  (All of this is mostly well and good, but it fails to comprehend that the average parish priest has a lot more on his plate than just counseling couples who wish to be married.)

212.  Pope argues for simple rather than elaborate and expensive marriages.  (The Pope is completely correct on this.)

213.  Couples in marriage prep should be taught the meaning of each part of the marriage liturgy.

214.  The Pope lays stress on the phrase “till death do we part”.

215.  Quotes approvingly the Kenyon bishops who have complained about young people focused on their wedding day and forgetting about the life long commitment.

216.  Couples to be married should meditate upon the Bible readings and they should pray together.  (The last is very important indeed, and just not prior to the marriage.  In all marriages there are always some tears, and praying together at the end of the day is a great means to deal with the inevitable sorrows that confront us in this Vale of Tears.)

217.  Couples need help during the first years of married life to learn to truly love and appreciate each other when the first stage of physical infatuation passes.

218.  Couples need to understand that their marriage is an ongoing life long project.

219.  Hope is necessary ingredient in all marriages.

220.  Love in marriage is often a matter of tender negotiation and making decisions together.

221.  Inflated expectations can help destroy a marriage.

222.  Number of children are up to parents with properly informed consciences and abiding by the teachings of the Church.  Greater emphasis should be placed on the fact that kids are a glorious gift from God.

223.  Experienced husbands and wives with lasting marriages should help counsel newly weds.  (A good sense of humor always comes in handy in a marriage.)

224.  Husbands and wives should always make time for each other.

225.  Couples need to learn how to spend time with each other. “Once a couple no longer knows how to spend time together, one or both of them will end up taking refuge in gadgets, finding other commitments, seeking the embrace of another, or simply looking for ways to flee what has become an uncomfortable closeness.”  (Wise words.)

226.  Young newlyweds should be encouraged to develop patterns of routine that help bring them together.

227.  Families that pray together stay together.

228.  Marriages where one spouse does not practice the Faith pose special challenges, challenges that can with grace be overcome.   “the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband” (1 Cor 7:14).

229.  Parishes can help married couples in various ways.

230.  A missionary effort to married couples who have fallen away from the Church must be undertaken.

231.  Love between those married for a very long time is a wondrous thing.

232.  Crises can strengthen a marriage.

233.  When problems are not dealt with in a marriage, communication is the first thing to go.

234.  Crises in a marriage need to be faced together.

235.  Many crises are typical of most marriages:  births of children, health problems, financial problems, the problem of the empty nest, etc.

236.  “To know how to forgive and to feel forgiven is a basic experience in family life”.

237.  Too many marriages end that could be saved by the parties forgiving each other.
238.  Marriages that last use crises to strengthen the bond between husband and wife.
239.  Emotional immaturity can be deadly to a marriage.
240.  A poor relationship with parents can ill prepare people for marriage.
More tomorrow.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
10 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Greg Mockeridge
Greg Mockeridge
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 3:54am

As for #212, even simple weddings nowadays can cost a pretty penny.

Philip
Philip
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 4:17am

231. Love between those married for a very long time is a wondrous thing.

Amen!

I thank God for the great gift of my parents love for each other. They made it to their 64th married year on earth and with God’s grace their love continues on for eternity.

When you leave the nest that your parents raised you in, you can appreciate the love they shared for family. When I left the nest I encountered so many people who did not experience a loving family life. What a blessing to have had such a faithful and honest to goodness loving parents.

To you parents.

God Bless your marriage and your families marriages. We are loved.

Don L
Don L
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 5:12am

Doesn’t #240 give us more than a clue about the dangers of “gay” parents? How does one relate to good old Mom and Dad?

Don L
Don L
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 5:36am

This blessed old codger received as an engagement gift from his wife-to-be, a copy of Fulton Sheen’s, “Three to Get Married.” That was nearly 6 decades ago, and yes, there were ups and downs, mostly caused by ourselves, but with God’s grace, we persevered and as we now face life’s last days with it’s pains, and unknowns, I stand amazed at the deep peace and joy that we share. We watch the world, in a million different ways, rushing to obtain the same thing that we have been gifted. Without God, it is all meaningless.

Philip
Philip
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 7:10am

@DonL.

Perfectly said;”Without God, it’s all meaningless.”

When my wife and I go out West to visit a dear friend and his wife, we are surrounded by everything money can buy. He worked very hard to achieve his huge wealth, and I am not belittling it. How many Rolex’s or antique cars, or properties does it take to bring fulfilment?

We know the answer, but they are struggling with it, and it’s sad.
When heading out for Mass on Sunday we always invite them, but it’s not a taste they have cultivated.

.Anzlyne
.Anzlyne
Wednesday, April 20, AD 2016 11:06am

“Pope argues for simple rather than elaborate and expensive marriages. (The Pope is completely correct on this.) ”
I agree but – art and beauty and music at the ceremony can be expensive and also important – Simple and beautiful would be good… the importance of the day should be marked. We dress up for Sunday mass. We decorate the altar in special ways for Christmas and Easter
The $ don’t matter so much as the depth of meaning– wearing momma’s dress or growing your own flowers can be great, sister in law baking the cake — but still as elaborate and beautiful as is worthy of the occasion.
Four of our five had nuptial masses– yay- all carefully picked their readings and songs — but the most expensive and elaborate was the “so-called” wedding

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Friday, April 22, AD 2016 9:29am

don L. The sodomite in a free will act of his sovereign personhood has chosen sodomy for himself. If the sodomite wishes to have children he is free to marry heterosexually. Give the children the right to choose. Informed consent to gay parents comes at emancipation at eighteen years of age.

Mary De Voe
Mary De Voe
Friday, April 22, AD 2016 9:30am

OOPS Don L.

Philip
Philip
Friday, April 22, AD 2016 10:22am

@Mary De Voe.

It’s comments like this last one you just posted that allow me the opportunity to say this; You would make the perfect Supreme Court Justice. I’ve missed your comments.
Great to see you back.

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top