Marriage

Together for Life has been the most trusted source for wedding planning in the Catholic Church for more than forty-five years. This new edition of Together for Life contains the new texts of the most recent translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony. It includes all the tools engaged couples use when meeting with a priest, deacon, or lay parish minister to plan their weddings and prepare for living the sacrament of Marriage. 

Written by Msgr. Joseph Champlin (1930–2008) and first published in 1970, more than ten-million copies of Together for Life have been sold. The previous edition was updated in 2011 with the help of Rev. Peter A. Jarret, C.S.C., to include the revised liturgical texts of the third edition of the Roman Missal. The 2016 edition contains all the necessary texts from The Order of Celebrating Matrimony. 

Each reading choice is accompanied by a reflection written by lay married theologians or pastoral leaders who are committed to the sacramental life of the Church. Contributors include Ann M. Garrido, Msgr. Michael Heintz, Diana Macalintal, H. Richard McCord, Geoffrey D. Miller, Tim Muldoon, Julie Hanlon Rubio, and Deacon William F. Urbine.

Together for Life includes all of the information, prayers, blessings, and readings needed to plan a wedding that will be held within Mass, without Mass, or between a Catholic and a catechumen or non-Christian. FAQs address questions couples may have about traditions such as readings, music, witnesses, and unusual circumstances.

Together for Life includes:

• Approved texts for The Order of Celebrating Matrimony and prayers from the Roman Missal
• “The Word Brought Home,” scripture commentaries by Catholic leaders
• Catechetical commentary by Rev. Peter Jarret, C.S.C., to help couples deepen their understanding of the Church's liturgy 
• Hints for incorporating ethnic and cultural devotions and practices into a Catholic wedding
• Sample intercessions
• How-to guides to help parish ministers
• FAQ section about the celebration of Catholic weddings

The material in Together for Life is supported by TogetherforLifeOnline.com. The site includes an online selection form, Catholic wedding planning resources, and articles providing enrichment to both married and engaged couples.

Together for Life is also available in Spanish.

Before "I Do"

Preparing For The Sacrament Of Marriage

Author : Anthony Garascia

Garascia, a lay pastoral minister and marriage and family therapist, has designed a program rich in psychological insight, permeated with a spirituality of marriage, and easily adapted for various settings. Six sessions provide a wealth of exercises and reflection questions to help engaged couples clarify their expectations for marriage and deepen their love and understanding. The sessions are easily adaptable for use in a couple-to-couple program, in a small group format, or in large group or weekend meetings.

Before "I Do" (Leader's Guide)

Preparing For The Sacrament Of Marriage

Author : Anthony Garascia

Garascia, a lay pastoral minister and marriage and family therapist, has designed a program rich in psychological insight, permeated with a spirituality of marriage, and easily adapted for various settings. Six sessions provide a wealth of exercises and reflection questions to help engaged couples clarify their expectations for marriage and deepen their love and understanding. The sessions are easily adaptable for use in a couple-to-couple program, in a small group format, or in large group or weekend meetings.

Juntos Para Toda La Vida is the Spanish edition of the bestselling marriage resource, Together for Life. With more than nine million copies of the English-language edition sold, Together for Life has been meeting the needs of Catholic parish ministers and engaged couples for more than forty years.

This booklet includes:

• all approved liturgical text and prayers needed for planning weddings during Mass, outside Mass, or between a Catholic and an unbaptized person
• sample intercessions
• how-to guides for parish ministers
• catechetical commentary by Rev. Peter Jarret, C.S.C., to help couples deepen their understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony
• scripture commentaries from married Catholic leaders
• hints for incorporating ethnic and cultural devotions and practices into the ceremony
• information regarding having a civil marriage blessed or validated by the Church.

Juntos Para Toda La Vida is published in collaboration with Liguori Publications.

  Juntos para toda la vida es la edición en español del exitoso recurso para el matrimonio Together for Life. Con más de nueve millones ejemplares vendidos de la edición en inglés, Juntos para toda la vida ha respondido a las necesidades de ministros parroquiales católicos y de parejas comprometidas por más de cuarenta años.

Este librito incluye:

• Todos los textos litúrgicos aprobados y las oraciones necesarias para planificar bodas durante la Misa, fuera de la Misa o entre un católico y una persona no bautizada.
• Ejemplos de intercesiones
• Guías prácticas para los ministros parroquiales
• Comentarios catequéticos del Padre Peter Jarrett, C.S.C. para ayudar a las parejas a profundizar su comprensión del sacramento del Matrimonio
• Comentarios sobre las Escrituras de líderes católicos casados
• Claves para incorporar devociones y prácticas étnicas y culturales en la ceremonia
• Información sobre cómo validar o bendecir por parte de la Iglesia, un matrimonio civil

In a few short minutes, the Scripture quotes, passages from Church documents, and thoughts from the Saints which begin the days in this book will provide comfort and guidance for married couples as they seek to live their vocation to the fullest. A brief reflection and prayer complete this dynamic daily practice. 

• Pages: 192
• Author: ALLAN F. WRIGHT
• Size: 4 X 6 1/4
• Color: RED
• Binding: DURA-LUX

Lucid and inspiring, Behold the Man is a unique exploration of Catholic spirituality for men. Much of the literature written for Catholic men focuses on topical issues such as fatherhood and sexuality. While this book does not exclude these subjects, it is the first to present a comprehensive picture of Catholic male spirituality.

What is authentic male Catholic spirituality? What distinguishes it from Protestant male spirituality? How does masculine spirituality complement feminine spirituality? These questions and many more are answered in this book.

Drawing from Scripture and Church teaching, the author roots Catholic male spirituality in a covenant relationship with God and the cross of Jesus Christ. He demonstrates that when a man embraces the cross he is truly able to be himself—the man that God created and calls him to be. Behold the Man can deepen a man’s experience of Christ and help him to know the Lord more intimately.

296 pages

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, known worldwide as the Dynamic Deacon, is one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master of theological studies from the University of Dallas. He hosts his own weekly broadcast, From the Rooftops, on Radio Maria, and is the host of several popular series on EWTN television, including Behold the Man: Spirituality for Men. He is married with four children.

The secret of a good marriage, for the most part, is that there are no secrets, only commonsense, time-tested ideas practiced by countless others who have done it well.—from the Introduction

Marriage expert Dr. Ray Guarendi has counseled enough couples to know that building a better relationship with your spouse doesn't mean learning exotic new communication techniques or rearranging your lifestyle. In fact, a few of his ten "small steps" are lessons you learned in grade school, such as:

• Say “I'm Sorry”
• Listen a Minute
• Make a List
• Use Your Manners

Plus, with his "resistance rationales," Dr. Ray helps you overcome any reluctance you might feel to taking these small steps. Filled with straightforward advice, this book reminds you that a happier, more rewarding marriage is just a few small steps away.

160 pages  

Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops Marriage Envelope for use with the Prenuptial Questionnaire. Sold in packages of 25.

Couples, Awaken Your Love

With the luminous insight that we have come to expect from his writings, Robert Cardinal Sarah helps spouses rediscover the deep source of their love—God Himself—and the means for letting love between them grow.

This book presents the essentials of a retreat that the cardinal preached to married couples in Lourdes, France. It is meant for all couples, including those who are struggling. There is a path to renewal for everyone, and couples in every situation can find again the preciousness of the love that binds them, no matter how hidden it may be.

We are all, without exception, called to joy, and Christ alone can give it to us. He works through his Church, through the sacraments, and through his saints—especially Mary, the Mother of God, who heals couples.

Paperback, 138 pages

Habits For a Healthy Marriage: Handbook for Catholic Couples

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.

Paperback, 280 pages

Author: Christopher Kaczor and Jennifer Kaczor

This work explores some of the most interesting and vexing problems in contemporary life. Appealing to reason rather than religious authority, the book tackles the most controversial and talked about positions of the Catholic Church - on contraception, on marriage, on reproductive technologies, on cohabitation, and on divorce - arguing for the reasonableness of the Church's views on these issues.

The book's interdisciplinary approach, following the precedent of Thomas Aquinas, looks to human happiness and fulfillment, properly understood, in seeking the answers to questions about how to live. It aims to show to skeptical readers that what the Catholic Church teaches about controversial issues is rationally justified by considering evidence from psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

The foundation of Kaczor's approach is happiness. We all want to be happy. Every day, in whatever we do, we seek this goal. But what exactly is happiness? And how can we find it? The saints and psychologists agree: there can be no real happiness without authentic love-erotic love, friendship love, and self-giving love (agape).

From this foundation of happiness Kaczor explores the nature of marriage, and the love they promise to each other, which is agape, a self­giving love that is the choice to do good for the other. He also examines alternatives to covenant marriage, such as polygamy and same­sex marriage, as well as cohabitation.

Finally the book explores the value of children. To make sense of Catholic teaching on contraception, he says that we must first reconsider the value of fertility and having children. Only in this perspective, can one begin to understand what the Church teaches.

Hardcover, 207 pages