Mixed Marriage

[Brenda_V]

CatDad:

Thanks aurora77 and maryjk for you comments. My wife is also more then tolerant she is supportive and we both work together to deepen our relationship with Christ. She like all of us is on a spiritual journey to our Lord and is coming closer to The Church each day.

I think something that needs to be considered as well is that a sacramental marrage has Three parties involved the husband, wife and God. A marriage is partially an act of the will but a spouse is a gift from God, and I believe that my wife is the greatest gift God has given me, aside from himself. How could I be true to my God (Priority #1) and not accept the gift I was given? The purpose of my life is the salvation of my spouse as it should be for all who are called to the vocation of marrage.

I pray for my wife every day and spend time in eucharistic adoration and and recently completed a 90 day"novena" for her conversion.

Again remember we are all sinners and some of us were given the grace of being born into the faith and others are in a journey toward or away from it. And my relationship with my wife has drawn me much closer to God, even if she is not a Catholic.

Regarding my children I also pray for them daily and do my best to see that they are devoted to the Lord. But I trust in the Lord that he will lead them to salvation, for I cannot without Him

God Bless

CatDad,

Well said. I too see my husband as a gift from God. He is far more “Catholic” than many of my Catholic friend’s husbands. I pray for him daily, I pray for my children and it is His Will I pray for.

As I have said before, when I was preparing for my Wedding I spent much time in prayer, including daily Mass and Communion (no adoration then). My husband and I have a marriage that is Christ centered and without that we would have broken up long ago and not due to our difference in Denomination. My husband and I have had our marriage outlive many statistics from difference in Christian Faiths to the life and death of a handicap child. As I said in my original post on this, we just celebrated our 27th anniversary last month and are into our 28th year of marriage.

I can tell you of many children who are non-practicing, atheist, agnostic or new ager who are the product of a two parent family where both parents are very devout, knowledgable Catholics!

I can also tell the OP that his(?) friends who have stopped practicing are still young and in all probablility will come back home! How many people on these forums alone are what we call reverts? How many in this thread are?

What we need to do is pray for all those who have fallen away for it is God’s will that they come to Him!

Brenda V.

 

[CatDad]

Thanks Brenda V. for your responseI congratulate you for you many years of marriage. My family on my parents side (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc,) are the product of two very devout Catholic couples ( my mother has 12 siblings) seem to be generally lukewarm about the faith. And I keep them and all fallen away Catholics in my prayers

As a side note my wife is reading Pope Benedict’s new encyclical whe I received today in the diocesean newspaper so she’s getting closer. Please pray for her and I will pray for you and your family.

God Bless

 

[SeekerJen]

JMJ Theresa:

I have to believe that most who enter into mixed marriages are either ignorant Catholics or uncommitted to the Church.

Hmm. Then I’m curious as to why my faith and orthodoxy have only grown stronger since marrying my non-Catholic husband (in a valid and sacramental marriage, for which we are both grateful). I knew what I was getting into, and I’ve never regretted it for a second.

Like Aurora’s husband, mine is very supportive and tolerant of the crucifixes, rosaries, Catholic bibles and periodicals, etc. scattered all over the house. He’s very encouraging when it comes to getting me to Sunday Mass, parish choir practice, St. Vincent de Paul meetings, etc. We’ve had some interesting theological and doctrinal discussions, and while his upbringing in the Congregational church was far different than mine as a Catholic, he’s very open to much of Catholic doctrine (especially on things like marriage and abortion), and admitted that he thinks Confession is a good idea. He’s also admitted to liking my parish (although he feels uncomfortable at Mass because he doesn’t have it down yet), and thinks we should raise our kids in the Church, if we ever are blessed with them.

As Catholicism was completely foreign to him when we met a little over 4 years ago, I’d say he’s done quite well. And I don’t believe I went into this marriage out of ignorance or lack of faith and commitment. Instead I believe that God is using me to bring him home.

I’m sorry that you have had such a poor experience, but not all of us can say the same.

 

[aurora77]

CatDad:

I think something that needs to be considered as well is that a sacramental marrage has Three parties involved the husband, wife and God. A marriage is partially an act of the will but a spouse is a gift from God, and I believe that my wife is the greatest gift God has given me, aside from himself. How could I be true to my God (Priority #1) and not accept the gift I was given? The purpose of my life is the salvation of my spouse as it should be for all who are called to the vocation of marrage.

That is absolutely beautiful–I couldn’t agree more. It may be corny and many people reading this may think I’m nuts, but I believe that God picked out this man to be my husband. I mean, it was like, He just shoved us together at the right time.

I think it’s amazing how many of us say that our spouses are more “Catholic” than actual Catholics. One thing I couldn’t tolerate would be a lukewarm Catholic spouse. My husband doesn’t understand the fullness of truth that is the CC and I pray that someday he will. But, to have a husband who’s been raised with that truth, but who doesn’t embrace it like I do–I would have such a problem dealing with that.

 

[khkhk]

I think it depends on what religion the two people are. I think an Orthodox and a Catholic would do okay, but I don’t really think that they are a good idea.