The Renewal Project
Simple. Achievable. Life Changing.
“Behold, I make all things new.” – Revelation 21:5
Simple Ideas for Renewal for Married Couples
Ideas done within the Home
Create a habit of praying together as a couple. If you are not already praying together as a couple, find a starting point that is doable and consistent for you (daily, weekly, etc.).
- Pray together, asking for God’s grace and blessings upon your marriage.
- Pray the Rosary, offering each decade for different aspects of your marriage (e.g., unity, patience, selflessness).
- The Litany of the Holy Family, asking Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to guide your relationship.
- Pray the Our Father while holding hands, symbolizing your unity in Christ.
- Attend Eucharistic Adoration together, offering your marriage before the Lord.
- Pray the “Prayer of Spouses for Each Other”
- Pray for God to show you how your marriage can be a mission of ministry to each other, your family, your parish, your community, etc.
- Agape Catholic Ministries (Article): “Ways to Pray as a Couple”
Reflect on your marriage journey. Set aside time to reflect on your journey as a couple:
- Share memories of your wedding day and early years.
- Discuss the ways you’ve grown and changed as individuals and as a couple.
- Acknowledge both the joys and challenges you’ve faced together.
- Write down a few things you are most grateful for in your spouse and share them with each other.
Reflect on biblical passages that highlight God’s vision for marriage:
- Genesis 2:18-24: “The two shall become one flesh.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind…”
- Ephesians 5:21-33: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church…”
Renew your sacramental awareness remembering that marriage is a sacrament, a visible sign of God’s love. Meditate on how your marriage reflects Christ’s love for the Church, which is selfless, faithful, and sacrificial. Read this excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1601-1666) and/or Familiaris Consortio by St. John Paul II for a deeper theological reflection on marriage.
Practice forgiveness and reconciliation. Be proactive to heal any unresolved wounds or tensions in your relationship by having honest and gentle conversations about any areas where you need forgiveness or growth. Offer each other reconciliation through small gestures of love and humility. Go to Confession to experience God’s mercy and remain spiritually renewed.
Read and Discuss Catholic Marriage Books such as:
- “Three to Get Married” by Fulton Sheen (free online version) – A classic on the spiritual aspects of marriage.
- “Theology of the Body for Beginners” by Christopher West ($) – Insights into the sacramental beauty of marriage.
Ideas done within the Church
Make it a priority to attend Mass (click for a list of Mass times in the Diocese of La Crosse, or anywhere) and receive the Eucharist together as a couple.
Attend Adoration together as a couple.
Ideas that can be done anywhere
Go on Retreat.
- Consider going on a marriage retreat such as Domestic Church, or a couple’s day of reflection. Catholic retreats often include talks on communication, prayer, and the sacramental nature of marriage, providing spiritual renewal and practical insights.
Listen to Catholic Podcasts or YouTube Channels that Catholic parenting in relatable ways. Examples are:
- Messy Family Project: At the Messy Family Project, we give you the opportunity, tools, and inspiration to grow in love with each other. Take advantage of our downloads, date nights, courses, and our getaways to make your marriage all it can be not just for you, but for your children and even for all of society.
- Ascension Press has a variety of great Catholic podcasts to choose from.
Explore websites that have many great marriage resources:
- For Your Marriage – For Your Marriage helps couples at all stages of life to understand and live God’s plan for happy, holy marriages by providing educational and spiritual resources. The website was launched in 2007 as part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to communicate the meaning and value of married life for the Church and for society.
- Domestic Church – Domestic Church is a lay movement for married couples that provides Catholic Christian community and lifelong spiritual formation through small groups and retreats.
- Retrouvaille – Retrouvaille is for couples who want to make their marriages better. We can help couples in troubled marriages and couples with good marriages who believe their marriages can be better. The primary requirement is a willingness to work on your marriage. Both husband and wife are required to attend the program.
- Worldwide Marriage Encounter – The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply. There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be.
Practical tips for married couples:
- Your role as husband and wife is to get each other to Heaven. Take an active role in reminding your spouse that they are loved unconditionally by God and by you.
- Give each other a blessing by tracing the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead before you start your day, before you go to sleep, or any time.
- Send texts reminding your spouse that they are loved.
- Reread together, the scripture passages that were read at your wedding.
- Remember to say, “I love you,” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry.”