Theology of the Body is the name given to a rich collection of writings by Blessed John Paul II on the sacramental nature of human sexuality expressed in marriage. This is how Pope Benedict XVI summed it up in May 2011 when he reminded us that family is where we discover our relationality and live our call to love in one body and one spirit.
In his address to participants at a gathering held by the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Pope Benedict emphasized that in the family, the 'gift of self in one single flesh is lived in the conjugal love that unites spouses.'
'Here the fruitfulness of love is experienced and life is joined with that of other generations,' he said. 'In the family, humans discover their relationality, not as autonomous individuals who are self-made but as child, spouse, and parent whose identity is based on being called to love, to receiving another's self and to giving oneself to others.'
'The body,' he explained, 'speaks to us of an origin that we haven't granted ourselves. It is only when recognizing the original love that has given them life that human beings can accept themselves, only then can they be reconciled with nature and with the world.'In light of this, he noted, the 'union in one flesh thus becomes a union of all of life, so that man and woman might become one spirit.'
'In this sense,' the Pope continued, 'the virtue of chastity takes on a new meaning.' 'It is not a 'no' to life's pleasures and joys but a great 'yes' to love as the profound communication between persons, which requires time and respect, as a path together toward fullness and as love that becomes capable of generating life and generously welcoming the new life that is born.'
However, 'the body also contains a negative language,' he said. 'It speaks to us of the oppression of the other, of the desire to possess and exploit. Nevertheless, we know that this language does not pertain to God's original plan, but is the fruit of sin.' 'Isn't this the drama of sexuality that today remains locked in the vicious circle of one's own body and emotion, but which in reality can only be fulfilled in the call to something greater?'
'God offers humans a path of redemption to the body, whose language is preserved in the family … where the theology of the body and the theology of love are intertwined,' he said. 'God offers humans a path of redemption to the body, whose language is preserved in the family...When separated from its filial meaning, from its connection with the Creator, the body rebels against humans, and loses its capacity to show communion, becoming a place where the other is appropriated.'
However, he noted, 'God takes on the body and revealed himself in it.'
'As the Son, he received the filial body in gratitude, listening to the Father, and he offered his body for us, so that the new body of the Church might be generated.'
[EWTN News]
Smart Marriages USA
Here is a page with links to plenty of stuff on marriage from the profane to the profound passing through lots of fun on the way. Check it out for quotes, speeches, prayers and so much more: http://www.smartmarriages.com/marriage.quotes.html
How much does a wedding have to cost?
How much does it really cost to get married?
From 'Getting wed on a weekday'
By Tom de Castella BBC News Magazine
4th August 2011
"...financially-straitened times means that many people on average earnings are looking to make savings on weddings.
Travelodge reports an increase in wedding guests staying at its hotels, which offer rooms for as little as £29 a night. "Weddings are so expensive nowadays that people are making cutbacks," says a spokeswoman.
In 2009, Budget hotel chain Holiday Inn offered couples a wedding package for £999 that included a civil ceremony, evening DJ , function rooms and finger buffet for up to 100 guests.
But the Reverend David Newton, a baptist minister in Leeds, has gone one further. He cites statistics showing that 75% of co-habiters want to get married. Many of them are being put off by the high figures quoted for the cost of a wedding, he worries.
So Newton recently set up the website hundredpoundwedding.com to show that it can be done on the cheap. The Baptist church charges £67 for the wedding licence and says that with just another £33, a decent wedding can be arranged.
"One couple saved up their clubcard points and bought their wedding ring at Tesco," Rev Newton says. Other people have borrowed dresses, got friends to do the catering, or asked people to pay for their own dinner instead of buying a present.
The Church of England is backing another costcutting trend. A small but growing number of couples are choosing to have their wedding reception at the back of the church after the marriage service. "It works brilliantly for couples who want it," says Gillian Oliver, manager of the Church of England's wedding project. "It can help make it more economical. Especially as couples who get married in a church may be missing out on 'all-in' offers from civil venues."
Go to www.hundredpoundwedding.com for more information.
Until the 17th century, Sunday used to be the most popular day
for weddings in Britain as it was the one day most people
were free from work. However, the Puritans put a stop to this,
believing it was improper to be festive on the Sabbath.
Nowadays most weddings take place on a Saturday, despite the famous
wedding day rhyme advising that these bring ‘no luck at all’!
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all.
As for the time of year, Lent was thought to be an
inappropriate time for a wedding as this was a time of abstinence.
Similarly, the saying 'Marry in the month of May, and you'll live
to rue the day' dates back to Pagan times when May (Beltane -
the start of summer) was celebrated with outdoor orgies and was therefore
thought to be an unsuitable time to start married life! In Roman
times the Feast of the Dead and the festival of the goddess
of chastity also both occurred in May.
The advice was taken more seriously in Victorian times than it is
today! Even Queen Victoria is said to have banned her children from
marrying in May. In most Churches the end of April was a
busy time for weddings as couples wanted to avoid being married in May.
However, June was considered to be a lucky month to marry in
because it was named after Juno, the Roman goddess of women and
love, who was also seen as the protector of married life. The
Romans believed that she blessed marriages that took place in her month.
The Summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry
and this is partly to do with the sun's association with fertility.
In Scotland one popular custom was for the bride to "walk with
the sun" to bring her good luck. She would walk from east
to west on the south side of the church and then continue
walking around the church three times.
Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhymes:
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man
Marry in the month of May, and you'll live to rue the day
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bread
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shine, your living will be rich and fine
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last
Married in January's roar and rime,
Widowed you'll be before your prime
Married in February's sleepy weather,
Life you'll tread in time together
Married when March winds shrill and roar,
Your home will lie on a distant shore
Married 'neath April's changeful skies,
A chequered path before you lies
Married when bees o'er May blossoms flit,
Strangers around your board will sit
Married in month of roses June,
Life will be one long honeymoon
Married in July with flowers ablaze,
Bitter-sweet memories in after days
Married in August's heat and drowse,
Lover and friend in your chosen spouse
Married in September's golden glow,
Smooth and serene your life will go
Married when leaves in October thin,
Toil and hardships for you begin
Married in veils of November mist,
Fortune your wedding ring has kissed
Married in days of December's cheer,
Love's star shines brighter from year to year.
Ed's note: Much better to make sure that, whatever day, time, month or season you marry, you make sure you are well prepared for a lifetime of love, a love that thrives beyond the romance of the day, a love that survives when tragedy, poverty, sickness and age take their toll. It is easy to get married, quite another thing to stay married and another thing altogether to grow in love together during the lifetime of your marriage. (That's why FLM is here, to help you have the marriage you both need and deserve, it's never to late to try. However, if you do not feel free and safe in your marriage there is help http://www.cedar.uk.net/)
Scott Stanley 'Sliding or Deciding'
Here, straight from Scott Stanley’s blog is his intro to a YouTube film of his core talk on Sliding vs Deciding!! It’s 54 mins long, so fix yourself a coffee, sit back and enjoy!!
“Last year, I gave one of my favourite talks to the teachers at the school where my sons attended High School. That school is Denver Academy, and they excel at working with young people for whom typical school strategies are less than optimal. My wife Nancy and I really believe in what they do and wish more children could have what our sons have had there. So, when they asked me if I would give a talk to the teachers on an in-service day, I was happy to say yes.
The talk I gave is one of my core talks. It focuses on patterns and changes in how romantic relationships form these days, and what some patterns may mean for eventual success in relationships--especially marriage"
If you are interested, you can see it at YouTube:
Mass for Marriage
On Saturday 4th February 2012, just one week before National Marriage Week, Bishop Arthur will celebrate a Mass for Marriage to which all married people and their families and friends are invited, especially those who will be celebrating an anniversary next year.
Where?
Cathedral Church of St Anne
Great George Street
Leeds
(Parking at meters and in The Light car park behind the Cathedral)
When?
6pm Vigil Mass
Saturday 4th February 2012
Let us know!
If you are having an anniversary, especially a special one, please let Breda know at flm@flm.org.uk before 27th January.
Celebration Table afterwards in Wheeler Hall (advance booking essential contact Angela at admin@flm.org.uk to say how many people are expected from your party)
Marriage Unlocked - Open the door to a Stronger Relationship
Event: Marriage Unlocked (this event now past, but Care for the Family offer other relationship support and resources)
Contact: Care for the Family
Phone: 029 2081 0800
Discover the keys to a healthy relationship. A special evening event for every couple who want an even better marriage. Whether your marriage is in good shape or things are tough right now; whether you’ve been married a few months or many years, you can discover the keys to unlock the potential of your relationship at this great new event. Learn more about:
• Talking honestly
• Satisfying sex
• Growing deeper in love
• Making decisions without arguing
Tickets £12 per couple (order tickets for a second couple for just £8)
