Engaged couples should begin to form the habits and virtues they will carry into married life, including sometimes-difficult spiritual preparation. This package of stories from our partner Catholic News Service can help couples strengthen their relationship before their big day.

 

An unusual piece of advice: Talk about routines and rituals
It’s valuable to begin married life with a set of simple but intentional commitments to ensure that amid difficulties and busyness, couples can be guided by rhythms and routines that make time and space for the relationships that matter most.

Your engagement: Go for grace, not perfection
Beyond the guest list, caterer and high expectations fed by social media, couples can grow closer by sharing the sacraments of confession and Eucharist in order to deepen their relationship as “training for married life.”

Engaged couples: Pray together with the Bible
Pope Francis advises couples to prepare for their wedding by meditating together on the Scripture readings of the marriage ceremony, saying it would not be good “for them to arrive at the wedding without ever having prayed together.”

Prayer for engaged couples