Newly Married Couple: Intimacy Ministry

[CatholicandWed]

Hey Everyone,

Newly married couple (in our first year) and my wife and I are as devout as we can and are both cradle Catholics. We did not live together before marriage, and successfully through many graces were able to wait to be intimate on our wedding night. Every aspect of marriage is awesome.

One question both my wife and I have noticed, is that there appears to be nothing in the Catholic world for intimacy ministry in a way that everyday you get some advice or ideas from fun date ideas to intimacy tips or ideas but from a Catholic perspective. We read “Holy Sex” together which was a great read but there are not many recourses that are not Theology of the body. We are looking for a more light hearted forum but geared towards Catholic values. I know there is a polish priest who focuses on this ministry but that is about it and the internet is a risky place to go searching for things of this nature.

There are some protestant ones out there, but they don’t share are views on contraception and a few other areas when it comes to Chasity within marriage. Does anyone know of any priest or website or group geared towards Catholic intimacy, romance, in a light hearted way that isn’t go to heavy in theology but more for the everyday couple?

If not that would be nice - us Catholics have a tendency to just avoid the subject all together.

 

[LethalMouse]

Perhaps you and your wife’s calling? In the US I find alot lacking in certain things Catholic due to close enough existing via protestants. Perhaps more of us that see a lacking can fill said gaps?

On the flip side, I did a quick interweb search and there is little but there seemed to be a few blogs on the subject. Idk their quality though.

 

[phil19034]

Hey Everyone,

Newly married couple (in our first year) and my wife and I are as devout as we can and are both cradle Catholics. We did not live together before marriage, and successfully through many graces were able to wait to be intimate on our wedding night. Every aspect of marriage is awesome.

One question both my wife and I have noticed, is that there appears to be nothing in the Catholic world for intimacy ministry in a way that everyday you get some advice or ideas from fun date ideas to intimacy tips or ideas but from a Catholic perspective. We read “Holy Sex” together which was a great read but there are not many recourses that are not Theology of the body. We are looking for a more light hearted forum but geared towards Catholic values. I know there is a polish priest who focuses on this ministry but that is about it and the internet is a risky place to go searching for things of this nature.

There are some protestant ones out there, but they don’t share are views on contraception and a few other areas when it comes to Chasity within marriage. Does anyone know of any priest or website or group geared towards Catholic intimacy, romance, in a light hearted way that isn’t go to heavy in theology but more for the everyday couple?

If not that would be nice - us Catholics have a tendency to just avoid the subject all together.

I’m not aware of anything… but that sounds like it could be a great TV show on EWTN or CatholicTV

 

[Usige]

I’m not sure about any online resources or groups. Then again I’m not the best resource. With 7 kids and 21 years of marriage under my belt, sometimes intimacy looks like:

• Kiss a bunch of cheeks on the way out the door
• Wonder halfway to work if my wife’s cheek was one of them

I think the reason you don’t see many Catholic programs is that unfortunately many Catholics reject the Church’s teaching on sexual mores. For them the protestant programs that promote illicit activities are perfectly fine to them.

If you do find some (or have concrete ideas) I’d be glad to hear more. I am in formation as a deacon and my focus has been on marriage and family life. One area we identified that needs work is supporting couples, especially in the first years of marriage. Unfortunately since we are all old farts we don’t remember what it’s like to be in the early blush of marriage. We seem to do ok with pre marriage and empty nesters; during the parenting years maybe a little less so. We need to do more in the times of early marriage before kids and the various phases while raising kids.

 

[SusanneT]

I can’t suggest anything but I do agree that there is a need for such a forum.

 

[TruthSeeker92]

You may want to check out these Catholic books:
*
Spice Up Your Marriage: A 28-Day Adventure *
by Hallie Lord

Good News About Sex and Marriage by Christopher West

I haven’t read either of them but if you haven’t read them it’s worth a read.