M
mayxanh
Guest
The Lord calls to each of us, some hear the calling sooner than others. It took me almost 50 years to hear Him!
It took me 42 years to hear Him
- Status
H
Happy_Again
Guest
To Everyone on this thread, greetings! It is Thursday and so once again I ask your help in praying for the success of Retrouvaille programs starting tomorrow in Erie, Pennsylvania, Guasave, Mexico, Lubbock, Texas, and Syracuse/Utica, New York. Nearly 100 families will benefit from these programs in the next three month if it is God’s will. Please remember, too, all the presenting couples and priests and ministers who will facilitate these programs, their families for their sacrifices and for all couples who SHOULD attend but have chosen not to for whatever reason. May their time come in God’s PERFECT time!
H
Happy_Again
Guest
It seems there is no one on this thread anymore, but I’ll post my prayer request anyway. Tomorrow hurting couples around the world will begin their Retrouvaille journey in the following communities:
Austin (Spanish), Texas; Cali, Columbia Detroit, Michigan; Fresno (English), California; Fresno (Spanish), California; Montana; Nashville, Tennessee; Richland (Inland Northwest), Washington; San Diego (Spanish), California; San Fernando (Spanish), California
Please join your prayers with ours, lifting each couple up to God for help and hope, strength and grace to heal their broken marriage/family.
Joseph and Mary were a Retrouvaille couple…but God had a better plan for them and we believe he has a better plan for all of us! Amen!!
Austin (Spanish), Texas; Cali, Columbia Detroit, Michigan; Fresno (English), California; Fresno (Spanish), California; Montana; Nashville, Tennessee; Richland (Inland Northwest), Washington; San Diego (Spanish), California; San Fernando (Spanish), California
Please join your prayers with ours, lifting each couple up to God for help and hope, strength and grace to heal their broken marriage/family.
Joseph and Mary were a Retrouvaille couple…but God had a better plan for them and we believe he has a better plan for all of us! Amen!!
A
AM_2012
Guest
hi again,
Its been a long time since I have been on here. I needed a break from life.
Update since I have posted.
We have been apart for a couple of weeks now. H lives in a rental house and I moved into my new house.
We share custody of the kids and are very civil to each other, however there is still a lot of anger and he is constantly bringing up the past and how I have hurt him.
He has mentioned that he does not want a divorce, but is really struggling with seeing how we can make it work.
He has been putting forth an effort meaning, wanting to hang out with the kids and me and calling me during the day (something he hasn’t done for years), but we end up fighting about the past.
I still want to reconcile, but I am getting to my breaking point. I don’t know how much longer emotionally I can take this. It really affecting the kids. I feel I need to know if there is a future or not. I just need some closure. I told him that I don’t know how much longer I can take this and he said “Its only been 2 weeks” I said well “2 weeks since we have been apart, but its been 7 mths for me”
We are both on this journey, but in drastically different places.
I have been doing a lot of work on myself, therapy, I took 2 weeks off to just relax. I am heading on a yoga retreat for a week by myself.
My H hasn’t done anything (well I guess in my eyes). I am heading out of town this weekend for Easter and of course he normally would come, but says he needs to reflect on his life so hes staying home. Not sure if that’s a copout or he is really going to reflect.
He told me that he set a goal of 1 month to figure things out, but he is not where he expected himself to be. (not sure what that means to be honest – whether he is afraid to move back in and the relationship fails again or that he knew he would have a clear vision that he should leave the marriage)
Can anyone share their success stories about being separated for a long period of time and getting back together and making it work.
Am I giving up too soon? Is 7 mths not long enough?
Its been a long time since I have been on here. I needed a break from life.
Update since I have posted.
We have been apart for a couple of weeks now. H lives in a rental house and I moved into my new house.
We share custody of the kids and are very civil to each other, however there is still a lot of anger and he is constantly bringing up the past and how I have hurt him.
He has mentioned that he does not want a divorce, but is really struggling with seeing how we can make it work.
He has been putting forth an effort meaning, wanting to hang out with the kids and me and calling me during the day (something he hasn’t done for years), but we end up fighting about the past.
I still want to reconcile, but I am getting to my breaking point. I don’t know how much longer emotionally I can take this. It really affecting the kids. I feel I need to know if there is a future or not. I just need some closure. I told him that I don’t know how much longer I can take this and he said “Its only been 2 weeks” I said well “2 weeks since we have been apart, but its been 7 mths for me”
We are both on this journey, but in drastically different places.
I have been doing a lot of work on myself, therapy, I took 2 weeks off to just relax. I am heading on a yoga retreat for a week by myself.
My H hasn’t done anything (well I guess in my eyes). I am heading out of town this weekend for Easter and of course he normally would come, but says he needs to reflect on his life so hes staying home. Not sure if that’s a copout or he is really going to reflect.
He told me that he set a goal of 1 month to figure things out, but he is not where he expected himself to be. (not sure what that means to be honest – whether he is afraid to move back in and the relationship fails again or that he knew he would have a clear vision that he should leave the marriage)
Can anyone share their success stories about being separated for a long period of time and getting back together and making it work.
Am I giving up too soon? Is 7 mths not long enough?
T
The_Bucket
Guest
I think one thing you need to note is that he’s no longer talking divorce and he wants to make it work even if he doesn’t know how to get there yet. I know you are fighting when you meet up, but keep in mind that you both hurt one another for quite some time. Letting that go is a very difficult process. Someone wants to “win” and feel vindicated, but ultimately the only way to win is to let it go. It’s an extremely difficult lesson to learn.
I think you’re right to say that it’s been seven months and he’s right to say that the current arrangements have only been a couple of weeks.
Like I said, you end up fighting about the past but he keeps reaching out, right? The fact that you have a fight doesn’t mean he stops hanging out with you and the kids or calling you. That’s a massive improvement, is it not?
I know you would like to be in a situation where while things are not all hunky-dory again, you’re clearly going in the same direction. I think you actually are. He’s having a very difficult time letting past hurts go, but at the same time he’s having an even harder time letting YOU go.
I think you’re right to say that it’s been seven months and he’s right to say that the current arrangements have only been a couple of weeks.
Like I said, you end up fighting about the past but he keeps reaching out, right? The fact that you have a fight doesn’t mean he stops hanging out with you and the kids or calling you. That’s a massive improvement, is it not?
I know you would like to be in a situation where while things are not all hunky-dory again, you’re clearly going in the same direction. I think you actually are. He’s having a very difficult time letting past hurts go, but at the same time he’s having an even harder time letting YOU go.
H
Happy_Again
Guest
Am I giving up too soon? Is 7 mths not long enough?
Dear AM 2012, It is wonderful to hear of your progress and even your struggles…we’ve been praying for you. It is great that you are on a personal self-improvement journey…you are truly the only thing you can change, and changing for the better as I see it.
I cannot speak to the separation issue except to say that in 21 years of ministering to hurting couples we have seen couples separated for years get back together and one even renewed their marriage vows. We;ve seen a couple bring their divorce papers to the final Post Weekend Session and tear them up in front of everyone, and a few couples we know remarried after several years of divorce. EVERY couple would share that it didn’t happen when THEY wanted it to, only when GOD wanted it to happen…in GOD’S PERFECT TIME.
Is 7 months long enough? Only God knows the answer because forgiveness and reconciliation happens only in GOD’S PERFECT TIME. I pray that your PERFECT TIME comes soon. I will continue to ask God to give you strength to persevere and patience to wait for that PERFECT TIME.
May Easter peace and joy be yours!
Thanks for posting an update.
Dear AM 2012, It is wonderful to hear of your progress and even your struggles…we’ve been praying for you. It is great that you are on a personal self-improvement journey…you are truly the only thing you can change, and changing for the better as I see it.
I cannot speak to the separation issue except to say that in 21 years of ministering to hurting couples we have seen couples separated for years get back together and one even renewed their marriage vows. We;ve seen a couple bring their divorce papers to the final Post Weekend Session and tear them up in front of everyone, and a few couples we know remarried after several years of divorce. EVERY couple would share that it didn’t happen when THEY wanted it to, only when GOD wanted it to happen…in GOD’S PERFECT TIME.
Is 7 months long enough? Only God knows the answer because forgiveness and reconciliation happens only in GOD’S PERFECT TIME. I pray that your PERFECT TIME comes soon. I will continue to ask God to give you strength to persevere and patience to wait for that PERFECT TIME.
May Easter peace and joy be yours!
Thanks for posting an update.
A
AM_2012
Guest
So yesterday was my 10 year wedding anniversary and I have been dreading this day since the BD. H asked me on Wednesday if I wanted to go for dinner on Friday night. I agreed and we had a very nice dinner, no fighting, no discussion of the relationship. Just a fun time.
He also gave me a card and it read
Happy 10 year anniversary
I hope we can make things work between us.
When I read the card, my heart sank in a Bad way. I had no expectations of even receiving a card from him, however those words for some reason just left me feeling empty. there is still so much uncertainty with him. I have been feeling that things have been getting better and I was hoping for more tHan that. I think my expectations are way to high, but I don’t know how to lower them. I ts probably time I read divorce busting again.
We spent the day together with the kids and it was good. No fighing. However when he left tonight he said I know we need to talk about the relationship at some time but I am not ready. I am till too angry.
I can’t fathom this anger he has for me. I have for months tried to understand it, but I can’t.
I keep hearing about these relationships that have turned around for the better and it’s all because they made a DECISION to work on the marriage. We also learned this at retro.
Why can’t my H make a decision? He said he hopes things work between us.
He signed the lease on his rental house for another month till the end of may at which time he has to leave as it has already been rented starting June 1.
One minute I feel good about everything and really hopeful and then the next I feel like giving up and walking away.
He also gave me a card and it read
Happy 10 year anniversary
I hope we can make things work between us.
When I read the card, my heart sank in a Bad way. I had no expectations of even receiving a card from him, however those words for some reason just left me feeling empty. there is still so much uncertainty with him. I have been feeling that things have been getting better and I was hoping for more tHan that. I think my expectations are way to high, but I don’t know how to lower them. I ts probably time I read divorce busting again.
We spent the day together with the kids and it was good. No fighing. However when he left tonight he said I know we need to talk about the relationship at some time but I am not ready. I am till too angry.
I can’t fathom this anger he has for me. I have for months tried to understand it, but I can’t.
I keep hearing about these relationships that have turned around for the better and it’s all because they made a DECISION to work on the marriage. We also learned this at retro.
Why can’t my H make a decision? He said he hopes things work between us.
He signed the lease on his rental house for another month till the end of may at which time he has to leave as it has already been rented starting June 1.
One minute I feel good about everything and really hopeful and then the next I feel like giving up and walking away.
H
Happy_Again
Guest
I can’t fathom this anger he has for me. I have for months tried to understand it, but I can’t.
Dear AM, I thought about you yesterday at Mass and wondered how you were doing!! You’ve been on my mind lately. I truly appreciate hearing your updates.
You will not be able to fully understand his anger until he has verbally described it to you in a way that you can relate.
Here is one example: I may be angry because someone “keyed” my vehicle, but because it was only a small, barely visible scratch that could maybe even disappear with some careful attention, I think it’s no big deal and nothing to raise a stink about…it happened. I wasn’t around to stop it from happening. It’s how I might feel if one of my youngsters ran around the house and knocked over a lamp. On a scale of 1 to 10, it would probably be a 3. My husband, however, might get totally irate about it and work himself into a tizzy so hot it looks and feels like red-hot glowing charcoal on a grill.
This is key in Retrouvaille! Identifying your own feeling by giving it a name and then describing that feeling to your spouse is crucial. We all “process” our feelings differently. When we share these descriptions with our spouse we have the added benefit of voice intonation and body language to help us realize why our spouse feels the way they do.
My husband might relate his feeling to a time when he was younger, when worked and slaved to earn the money to buy a brand new car only to have it “destroyed” when a prankster “keyed” it shortly after he bought it. This explanation might help me understand the intensity of his feeling and realize it as very real and valuable. I may come to believe it really is a “big deal” and think that some people should have more respect for the property of others.
From your sharing I surmise that he hasn’t given much thought about why he feels angry. I also think that you seem a bit conflicted: he gave you a nice experience with the children, a dinner, a card, basically a nice time. You say “I had no expectations of even receiving a card …” and then you say “I was hoping for more than that.” Did you express to him what your expectations were?
Only when you both start truly communicating your thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, desires, needs, etc. – only then will you be able to move forward to find forgiveness, healing and reconciliation in your marriage.
If you have stopped writing in your notebooks, I highly recommend you pick up the pens and write, then exchange the notebooks and just READ what each other shares. Do this as many times as you need to. You will know when the time is right to take your written dialogue letters to the next step…verbally sharing your feelings with each other. Remember, stay focused on only describing your feelings! Do NOT discuss thoughts and ideas…they are subject to questioning whereas feelings are NEITHER RIGHT NOR WRONG, THEY JUST ARE and they CAN NOT be questioned!
Back to the basics, my dear friend. Get out your workbooks and re-read some of the wisdom shared by the teams. Maybe even go back and attend the Post-Weekend sessions again. I’m thinking, but do not know for certain, that you both may not have attended all the sessions.
Keep posting and we will keep praying for all of you!
Dear AM, I thought about you yesterday at Mass and wondered how you were doing!! You’ve been on my mind lately. I truly appreciate hearing your updates.
You will not be able to fully understand his anger until he has verbally described it to you in a way that you can relate.
Here is one example: I may be angry because someone “keyed” my vehicle, but because it was only a small, barely visible scratch that could maybe even disappear with some careful attention, I think it’s no big deal and nothing to raise a stink about…it happened. I wasn’t around to stop it from happening. It’s how I might feel if one of my youngsters ran around the house and knocked over a lamp. On a scale of 1 to 10, it would probably be a 3. My husband, however, might get totally irate about it and work himself into a tizzy so hot it looks and feels like red-hot glowing charcoal on a grill.
This is key in Retrouvaille! Identifying your own feeling by giving it a name and then describing that feeling to your spouse is crucial. We all “process” our feelings differently. When we share these descriptions with our spouse we have the added benefit of voice intonation and body language to help us realize why our spouse feels the way they do.
My husband might relate his feeling to a time when he was younger, when worked and slaved to earn the money to buy a brand new car only to have it “destroyed” when a prankster “keyed” it shortly after he bought it. This explanation might help me understand the intensity of his feeling and realize it as very real and valuable. I may come to believe it really is a “big deal” and think that some people should have more respect for the property of others.
From your sharing I surmise that he hasn’t given much thought about why he feels angry. I also think that you seem a bit conflicted: he gave you a nice experience with the children, a dinner, a card, basically a nice time. You say “I had no expectations of even receiving a card …” and then you say “I was hoping for more than that.” Did you express to him what your expectations were?
Only when you both start truly communicating your thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, desires, needs, etc. – only then will you be able to move forward to find forgiveness, healing and reconciliation in your marriage.
If you have stopped writing in your notebooks, I highly recommend you pick up the pens and write, then exchange the notebooks and just READ what each other shares. Do this as many times as you need to. You will know when the time is right to take your written dialogue letters to the next step…verbally sharing your feelings with each other. Remember, stay focused on only describing your feelings! Do NOT discuss thoughts and ideas…they are subject to questioning whereas feelings are NEITHER RIGHT NOR WRONG, THEY JUST ARE and they CAN NOT be questioned!
Back to the basics, my dear friend. Get out your workbooks and re-read some of the wisdom shared by the teams. Maybe even go back and attend the Post-Weekend sessions again. I’m thinking, but do not know for certain, that you both may not have attended all the sessions.
Keep posting and we will keep praying for all of you!
A
AM_2012
Guest
Thank you. I love hearing from you. The one issue is he has never written in his notebook and never intends too. He never liked the dialogue process and will not engage in it at all.
We did attend all post sessions together. I have asked him to go back but he refuses.
We did attend all post sessions together. I have asked him to go back but he refuses.
T
thomasf
Guest
Frankly, I think you need to calm down a little bit and relax. IMO the card he gave you was a good sign, as was the fact he asked you out to dinner. It seems to me that you’re rushing things. If he has stuff to work out, then let him work it out. He’s making overtures, putting in work on your relationship, and trying to reach out. It sounds like there is a lot of hurt there and he’s trying to overcome it. You say you don’t understand his hurt. Have you asked him to explain it? Sounds like that may be a good area for you to talk about in some sort of counseling.
Maybe you are pushing him a bit and it’s causing the problem to get worse, or delaying his healing. IMO when I read you guys went out and he gave you a card and spent all that time and there was no fighting, that’s a good sign. You should be encouraged about that. From a man’s perspective, there are years of hurt there, and he’s trying not only to overcome that hurt but also trying to fall back in love with you.
How much praying are you doing on this? Have you turned to Mary with these problems? Saying the rosary always helps to calm me down when I’m having problems and anxieties. What about the Divine Mercy? Part of Jesus’ message in DM is trusting in Him. Sometimes you have to stop trying to fix the problem yourself and relax and give it up to Jesus.
IMO be encouraged about what happened yesterday, stop trying to rush things and help him to heal the hurts. It took years to build to this point, it’s going to take a while to heal it. Rushing that isn’t going to help.
Maybe you are pushing him a bit and it’s causing the problem to get worse, or delaying his healing. IMO when I read you guys went out and he gave you a card and spent all that time and there was no fighting, that’s a good sign. You should be encouraged about that. From a man’s perspective, there are years of hurt there, and he’s trying not only to overcome that hurt but also trying to fall back in love with you.
How much praying are you doing on this? Have you turned to Mary with these problems? Saying the rosary always helps to calm me down when I’m having problems and anxieties. What about the Divine Mercy? Part of Jesus’ message in DM is trusting in Him. Sometimes you have to stop trying to fix the problem yourself and relax and give it up to Jesus.
IMO be encouraged about what happened yesterday, stop trying to rush things and help him to heal the hurts. It took years to build to this point, it’s going to take a while to heal it. Rushing that isn’t going to help.
H
Happy_Again
Guest
I was pleased to hear you completed the posts. It confirms that your husband values your relationship and made an effort to invest the time in it. The entire program is a HUGE commitment of time…we’ve been doing it for 21 plus years…and we wouldn’t ask the couples to do anything that we ourselves wouldn’t do. Bravo for him!!
Ok. He won’t write…but YOU can still write. YOU can write your daily letters and give them to him. YOU can help him realize how YOU feel…then HE can get to know you better, more intimately than ever because after all, he is the most significant other person in your life next to your relationship with Jesus Christ and it is that most intimate and deep sharing of your thoughts, feelings, hopes, desires, etc. that elevates your marriage to a deeper level…one that only the three of you can share.
I encourage you to write your letters … decide to love him enough to spend 10 minutes each day sharing a part of you with him…then give him the letters to read. And pray…trust in God’s perfect time.
A
AM_2012
Guest
Also I need advice on something.
So currently we have shared custody and when the kids go to his house they are very upset and sad because they are not seeing me. They often cry for an hour before bed.
This was his weekend with the kids, but the kids didnt want to stay with him and he said to me last night that during this time ( meaning not sure what will happen with us) that we shouldn’t force the kids to stay at his house unless they want too.
The kids are already so confused.
First he moves out and visits the kids, then he moves back in with us, now hes out Again and we had very strict custody rules and now he’s flopping again saying the kids should chose. This is just so confusing for them. I don’t know if I should make him stick to the rules or not. I want what’s best for my kids
So currently we have shared custody and when the kids go to his house they are very upset and sad because they are not seeing me. They often cry for an hour before bed.
This was his weekend with the kids, but the kids didnt want to stay with him and he said to me last night that during this time ( meaning not sure what will happen with us) that we shouldn’t force the kids to stay at his house unless they want too.
The kids are already so confused.
First he moves out and visits the kids, then he moves back in with us, now hes out Again and we had very strict custody rules and now he’s flopping again saying the kids should chose. This is just so confusing for them. I don’t know if I should make him stick to the rules or not. I want what’s best for my kids
H
Happy_Again
Guest
I cannot speak to this issue, but perhaps others on this thread can share their own experience…what did or did not work for them.
One thing I KNOW for certain is that before Retrouvaille we had no rules, only conflict and chaos. After Retrouvaille we had rules and order and my husband and I truly understood the need to be unified in our discipline and interactions with the children. It made a WORLD of difference!
I don’t think you and your husband can come to that true sense of unity until you both open up and COMMUNICATE honestly and respectfully with each other about how you feel and what you think about things relative to the children.
Children need rules and discipline. They need parents who are firm yet fair, they need your unified love, patience, kindness, understanding (read 1 Corinthians 13). They NEED you BOTH to be on the same page – they don’t need any more conflict in their lives, they need stability. If their life with both of you is stable (or as stable as possible) then they are free to be themselves. The less stress they have at home the better equipped they are to grow and learn to face the troubles of their world outside the home environment. They are better equipped to tackle everything that life throws at them.
One thing I KNOW for certain is that before Retrouvaille we had no rules, only conflict and chaos. After Retrouvaille we had rules and order and my husband and I truly understood the need to be unified in our discipline and interactions with the children. It made a WORLD of difference!
I don’t think you and your husband can come to that true sense of unity until you both open up and COMMUNICATE honestly and respectfully with each other about how you feel and what you think about things relative to the children.
Children need rules and discipline. They need parents who are firm yet fair, they need your unified love, patience, kindness, understanding (read 1 Corinthians 13). They NEED you BOTH to be on the same page – they don’t need any more conflict in their lives, they need stability. If their life with both of you is stable (or as stable as possible) then they are free to be themselves. The less stress they have at home the better equipped they are to grow and learn to face the troubles of their world outside the home environment. They are better equipped to tackle everything that life throws at them.
H
Happy_Again
Guest
To everyone on this thread, please join me in praying for the many couples who will begin their Retrouvaille journey toward forgiveness, reconciliation and healing in their marriage tomorrow: And also remember those who have registered but choose not to attend…pray that they will do so only in God’s PERFECT time:
Bangalore, India
Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
Lansing, Michigan, USA
Managua, Nicaragua
North Jersey, New Jersey, USA
Northwest Ohio, USA
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Orlando, Florida, USA
Paris, France
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
San Diego, California, USA
San Lorenzo, Paraguay
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Saskatchewan, Canada
Bangalore, India
Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
Lansing, Michigan, USA
Managua, Nicaragua
North Jersey, New Jersey, USA
Northwest Ohio, USA
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Orlando, Florida, USA
Paris, France
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
San Diego, California, USA
San Lorenzo, Paraguay
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Saskatchewan, Canada
C
Chantal25
Guest
Why can’t you reconcile with your husband and live as roommate? Technically, you aren’t allow to have intimacy with anyone else anyway if you want to receive communion. The children are cut in the middle of this, this isn’t about your own happiness or husband but about your children. By doing the right thing, you will find happiness this way. Saint Monica prayed for her husband and he converted.
I personally strongly feel that the children SHOULD never move from house to house, IF a divorce, it should be the parent to go else where while the children would remain in the house and the other parent would come spend time with the children. Children needs stability.
I saw that you were going in a Yoga retreat, this is new age, only the exercise is allow for health purpose. Anything new age, is about self empowerment and own happiness completely against humility and devotion to your church or God’s will.
Please seek comfort in your church, this is where you need to get your strength. Talk to a priest and seek guidance. You must put your children first, they are your responsibility.
I personally strongly feel that the children SHOULD never move from house to house, IF a divorce, it should be the parent to go else where while the children would remain in the house and the other parent would come spend time with the children. Children needs stability.
I saw that you were going in a Yoga retreat, this is new age, only the exercise is allow for health purpose. Anything new age, is about self empowerment and own happiness completely against humility and devotion to your church or God’s will.
Please seek comfort in your church, this is where you need to get your strength. Talk to a priest and seek guidance. You must put your children first, they are your responsibility.
T
TheRealJuliane
Guest
I’ll pray!
H
Happy_Again
Guest
Many thanks for your prayers!!
A
AM_2012
Guest
Is there a specific saint I should be praying too to help with this reconciliation? I have heard of people buying saints and hanging them from trees or buried them? I am feel a lot of my energy being taken away with all this and I don’t know how much longer I can hang on.
H
Happy_Again
Guest
I’ve heard that burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down in your yard will help sell your house/property. As far as other such actions, I’m not aware of any.
As for a specific saint to pray to, I would recomment Saint Joseph. He is the patron saint of Retrouvaille. He was the provider and protector of the Holy Family. It was HIS decision to NOT divorce but rather to take Mary for his wife. He is an example of a Godly man, upright, strong and compassionate. I can think of no other saint more worthy of your prayers. In Retrouvaille we say that Mary and Joseph were the first Retrouvaille couple.
Pray to Mary, also. I relate to her when I am in need of emotional strength that only a woman or a mother can give. I seek her help with identifying, naming and describing my emotions and feelings.
Put yourself in her shoes when times are tough. Think how frightened she must have been when she had to tell Joseph she was pregnant. How difficult it must have been for her to give birth in a barn/stable, away from her home and family? Did she often lament over her husband’s death and agonize at the thought of raising Jesus alone? Think of how difficult it must have been for her to endure her son’s death without Joseph’s strong arms to comfort her?
I hope this has given you some direction, but NEVER stop praying to Jesus for HIS strength and healing. There truly is none greater!
C
Chantal25
Guest
Saint Rita
- Status