Catholic marriage is a sacrament and a lifelong journey of life and love.

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601

This journey is filled with twists and turns, subjected to both expected and unexpected events and circumstances that arise from within and without the marriage relationship and family life cycle.

There are times of excitement, anticipation and newness that give a joy-filled sense of wonder and adventure, especially during the early years of marriage. However, as the journey unfolds, your marriage vows “for better or for worse” can feel stretched, and your marriage may be experiencing more periods of “for worse” than “for better.” This is normal and inevitable for every marriage to various degrees.

The Good News of Catholic marriage is that you are not alone! Nor are you left to your own devices to grow together in greater unity and sanctity through the challenges and stages of marriage. First, there is the grace of the sacrament of Matrimony to love each other with the love of Christ.

“The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1799).” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1661

Second, you need not journey alone through these challenges and struggles – there is help for your marriage. Just as the Catholic church helped launch your marriage, it is there to help you work through difficulties and grow together in the continued newness of married life and love.

The Archdiocese of Detroit’s Marriage Coaching Ministry offers couples help for their marriage through a confidential, structured, couple-to-couple mentor-based program. The program’s goal is to assist couples in moving their marriage to a better place by inviting them to live out God’s plan for marriage and giving them tools and guidance to do so.

If you feel stuck, negative, hurting, helpless, or that your marriage is in trouble, consider the Marriage Coaching Ministry and take the next step by contacting the Archdiocesan Marriage Support Office at 313-237-4680 or familyministry@aod.org. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

If you are a couple interested in learning more about the Marriage Coaching Ministry and possibly becoming a Coaching Couple, you can fill out this inquiry form: Marriage Coaching Ministry Inquiry Form or contact the Marriage Support Office at grobbel.david@aod.org | 313-237-5894.

“Couples will gain from receiving help in facing crises, meeting challenges, and acknowledging them as part of family life. Experienced and trained couples should be open to offering guidance, so the couples will not be unnerved by these crises or tempted to hasty decisions. …There is no need for couples to resign themselves to an inevitable downward spiral or a tolerable mediocracy.” – Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia