Homilies about marriage

The LGBTQ+ Way of the Cross: Finding Christ in the Marginalized

Father Paul

This is a specialized Stations of the Cross devotion that interweaves the traditional Passion of Christ with the modern-day sufferings and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. Each station reflects on specific themes such as the 'closet' as a tomb, the persecution of trans individuals as a form of crucifixion, and the sanctity of queer families and marriages.

Los Venenos que Matan el Matrimonio: Violencia, Pornografía e Infidelidad

Dr. Marcos Randle

This homily, delivered by Dr. Marcos Randle, a psychologist, focuses on the "poisons that kill marriage." He categorizes these into subtle, slow-acting poisons (like financial disagreements, personality differences, or excessive phone use) and lethal poisons (violence, pornography, and infidelity). The core message emphasizes the importance of open communication, mutual understanding, and cultivating marital friendship as antidotes to these destructive forces, stressing that change is possible through conscious effort and God's grace.

Why the Devil Attacks You After Sacraments (and How to Fight Back)

Fr. Robert

The homily emphasizes that spiritual warfare is real, especially when one deepens their faith. The priest explains that the devil's tactic is 'divide and conquer,' often starting with negative thoughts about others, particularly those in leadership. He illustrates how monumental moments of grace, like receiving sacraments, can paradoxically become targets for the enemy's intensified attacks, drawing parallels to a struggling marriage with God.

Your Family's Eucharistic Mission: How Marriage Mirrors Christ's Sacrifice

This talk, part of a weekly formation series, explores the profound connection between the sacraments of marriage and the Eucharist, emphasizing that every family is called to a 'eucharistic mission.' The speaker uses personal anecdotes and theological insights to illustrate how marriage and family life are meant to be a visible, intentional, and grateful incarnation of Christ's love and sacrifice in the world, even amidst struggles and imperfections.

Embracing the Suffering of Love: Why Rest and Gratitude Transform Your Life

Father Romy

This homily, delivered during a Lenten Parish Mission, emphasizes the importance of embracing 'the suffering of love' in marriage and in our relationship with God. It challenges listeners to reorient their lives to grace by observing the Sabbath as a day of rest, gratitude, and communion, rather than succumbing to modern distractions like social media and over-scheduling. The speaker highlights that true fulfillment and transcendent living come from allowing God's plan to unfold and experiencing His love, even amidst difficulties.

Life's Journey: Finding God's Love and Our Eternal Home

Deacon Vic

The homily explores life as a journey, drawing parallels between the speaker's marathon experience, the Israelites' exodus, and the Samaritan woman's spiritual transformation. It emphasizes that Jesus accompanies us on this journey, offering living water and seeking a deep, marital relationship with us. The core message is that all human love reflects God's love, guiding us towards our ultimate home in heaven, where we can be "together forever" with Christ.

How Christian Love Makes Your Marriage Glorify God

The homily for this wedding mass emphasizes that marriage is a gift from God, intended to bring joy and give glory to God when lived with Christian love. The priest challenges the couple to personalize St. Paul's description of love from 1 Corinthians 13 by replacing 'love' with 'I', and shares personal letters written by the bride and groom expressing why they believe God chose them for each other, highlighting their shared faith and the peace they find together.

The Crisis of Fatherhood and Why Couples Won't Pray Together

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the priest emphasizes the critical role of fathers as spiritual leaders, noting that children are far more likely to remain in the faith when fathers lead. He shares a personal story about his own father's late conversion and challenges couples to overcome the awkwardness of praying together, noting that spiritual intimacy should naturally follow physical and financial trust.

God's Reckless Love: Why He Wants to Marry You

This homily, delivered during a Lenten Parish Mission, explores the concept of God's relationship with humanity as a passionate marriage covenant. The speaker emphasizes that God, the perfect lover, desires a deep, faithful union with us, culminating in the eternal wedding feast of Revelation. He challenges listeners to respond to God's love with passion, unapologetic faith, and a zeal for evangelization, drawing parallels between human marriage and our spiritual fidelity to God, and highlighting the Eucharist as the consummation of Christ's vows.

How Your Marriage Mirrors the Holy Trinity

The homily emphasizes that marriage is a sacrament, an outward sign of God's invisible love, and a vocation to happiness found in relationship and service. It likens the marital union to the Holy Trinity, where the intense, self-giving love between husband and wife can create new life, mirroring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The homily concludes by describing God's sacramental grace in marriage as a gift that grows, leading to deeper happiness and understanding of God's creative process over decades.

The Power of a Final 'Yes': Lessons from a Hall of Fame Life

The priest connects the funeral of Eddie Maehren to the Solemnity of the Annunciation, framing redemption as the 'undoing of the no' through the 'yes' of Jesus and Mary. He highlights how Eddie's life of devotion, marriage, and even his passion for bowling were ripples of this divine 'yes' to God's love and mercy. The homily concludes with the comforting image of Eddie being greeted in heaven by both Mary, the Mother of God, and his late wife, Maryanne.

Forgive from the Heart: The Pain of Betrayal and the Power of Mercy

The homily emphasizes the importance of forgiving from the heart, not just intellectually, drawing from the Gospel reading about the unforgiving servant. The priest shares a poignant, real-life story of a man facing a painful divorce and betrayal by his family, highlighting the devastating consequences of a lack of forgiveness and the need for compassion. He also stresses the connection between faith and good works, encouraging daily acts of mercy and prayer, and announces a Lenten retreat.

The Simple Truth Most Catholics Forget

The priest contrasts Mary's humble 'fiat' and recognition of God as Creator with the modern culture's 'my body, my choice' mentality. He challenges the congregation, noting that even many Catholics have adopted secular views on cohabitation and moral autonomy instead of following Mary's example of trust and chastity.

Your Marriage: A Living Billboard of God's Love

The homily for Joe and Morgan's wedding emphasizes that marriage is a visible sign of God's invisible love for humanity, calling the couple to model Christ's self-sacrificial love. It highlights that God is an active participant in their marriage, not just an observer, and must remain at the center for it to thrive and weather difficulties. The priest encourages the couple to be present in the moment and embrace their divine mission to reveal God's love to the world.

Fr. Eliosbel: ¿Has Olvidado tu Alianza con Dios?

Fr. Eliosbel Pereira

Fr. Eliosbel Pereira reflects on the concept of 'Alliance' (Covenant) through the lens of Abraham and the Sacrament of Marriage. He challenges the faithful to move beyond legalistic views of faith and marriage, emphasizing that a true covenant is a matter of the heart and constant fidelity to God's word.

La Verdadera Sed: Cómo Jesús Transforma Nuestras Vidas y Matrimonios

Padre Luke

The homily connects the thirst of the Israelites in the desert to the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus, emphasizing that true satisfaction comes from Jesus, the living water. It highlights the importance of acknowledging our sins, accepting God's transformative grace, and embracing the sacrament of marriage as a reflection of our relationship with Christ. The priest encourages the faithful to be witnesses of this transformation in the world, especially during Lent.

St. Joseph: A Model of Obedience, Patience, and Dignity in Family Life and Work

Fr. Sebastián

This homily, delivered by multiple speakers from a matrimonial and family pastoral group, focuses on St. Joseph as a model of justice, goodness, obedience, and protection for the Holy Family. It emphasizes the importance of thinking before acting, overcoming fear, and living out one's vocation (especially in marriage and parenting) with love, patience, and dignity, drawing parallels to St. Joseph's silent, hardworking, and faithful life.

Why Lasting Commitment is So Hard Today

The homily reflects on the contemporary relevance of Jeremiah's lament about a lack of faithfulness, connecting it to modern challenges in making lasting commitments like marriage or religious vows. It highlights Lent as a time to renew baptismal promises and suggests that while younger generations may delay commitment, they are often impressed by examples of enduring faithfulness.

St. Joseph: What It Actually Takes to Be a Good Father

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the priest reflects on Joseph's character as a 'righteous man' who was already godly before being called by God. He emphasizes that to be a good father or husband, one must first possess internal righteousness and faith, even when faced with bitter disappointments or broken hearts.

What We Take With Us: A 60-Year Journey to Christ

The priest reflects on Bernice's 60-year marriage and her husband's dedicated care as a testament to a life lived in Christ. He emphasizes that for a Christian, death is not an end but a 'passing' into the fullness of God's love, where only love remains and all suffering is stripped away.