Christian Married Life

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Christian Married Life

• A Sincere Gift of Self
• Preparation Sequence
• Making the tasks easier

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Opportunity to form
Team Manual
Sincere Gift Workshop
12 months
Living Sacrament
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Remember where we are headed

• Religious practice

• Open to life

Act Consistently with Vow Do not contracept
Mass Penance Prayer Moral Life
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A Spiritual Journey

• Establish relationship with the couple
• Move them incrementally through vision
• Provide tools for discernment development

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Spiritual Journey

• 8. Family Goals
• 7. Family Dynamics
• 6. Gift of Children
• 5. Christian Sexuality

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

• 4. Adjusting to Marriage
• 3. Vow
• 2. Communication
• 1. Marital Love

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Logic Preparation sequence

• A sequence must meet the couple where they are
  establish common ground between the couple the
  Church.
• The sequence continues in steps that allow the
  vision to unfold within the mindset of the couple
  
• They see the vision as something happening within
  them not foreign to them.
• Questions exercises allow them to integrate the
  points within their own lives.

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Contraception NFP
Meaning of marital act
Sexuality Symbolism Honesty Justice
Make the vision incarnate
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Begin with the couple

• Couples desire for each other
• Affective love
• Communication skills
• Talking Listening
• Types of Love

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Questions build relationship disposition

• Why are you here?
• Motives, churchs authority, they want her
  approval, . . .something more.
• Is it marital love or deception?
• A vital personal assessment that provides logic
  for role of the Church discernment
• What do you love about each other?
• Identifies affective love, virtues, friendship
• Is there proof of love?
• Marital act and vow are related, act expresses
  vow, expresses proof of love
• Is pleasure more important than friendship?
• Marital act more than pleasure
• Should a husbands passion act without respect
  for his wife?
• Logic of temperance, respect and chastity vs.
  lust, prepares for contraception
• What are the values/qualities of a healthy
  family?
• Identifies family values
• Prepares for virtue, communication, the child,
  family roles, sexuality
• What things will make you happy?
• Identifies the desire for God, priorities of
  life, vocation

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Authority of Church

• The Church is the guardian of marital love She
  understands it.
• Couples come to the Church. Why?
• They seek Her approval
• Couples desire for Something more than the world
  has to offer.
• They want
• Something Sacred
• The Goods of marriage
• Sacrament
• Happiness

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Dispose them to meaning of marital act with
common sense

• Scenarios can help the couple to assent to points
  which lay a foundation for later considerations.
• Scenario 1 Is there proof of love?
• Scenario 2 Marital act is related to vow more
  than pleasure
• Scenario 3 Logic of temperance, respect
  chastity vs. lust

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Dispose them to meaning of sacrament marital act

• Discussion understanding, communication virtue
• Dignity Value
• These issues represent the most practical aspects
  of married life and will be the most critical
  topics for happiness in daily life.
• Marital relations
• Communication
• Parenting
• Conflict resolution

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Discernment tools

• Family Roles
• Communication
• Skills Values
• Virtue
• Goals Objectives
• Living consistently
• Changes Adjustments

The couple considers themselves in light of very
practical aspects of married life.
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Essential Dynamics

• Attentiveness
• Expressing values
• Anger
• Escape Hatch

Most of the couples difficulties will relate to
these dynamics.
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Christian Married Life A Sincere Gift of Self
Preparation Sequence

• Christian Married Life is a wonderful program
  of marriage preparation indeed, it is by far the
  best I have seen.  
• Peter F. Ryan, SJ.
• Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Mount St.
  Mary's Seminary ,Emmitsburg, MD