November
16, 2008
Will
this marriage last?
What's
in a Name?
The word Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vi with a long i) is a French
word meaning rediscovery. You see, this program was first developed
by French-speaking Canadians and then spread to America -- and now it’s
offered throughout the world.
The program offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship.
Thousands of couples headed for cold, unloving relationships or divorce
have successfully overcome their marriage problems by attending the
program.
Whatever it’s called, I really want you to know how good this
program is. At first I had my doubts that one weekend and a few followup
sessions could heal the messes that some people got themselves into.
But then I experienced it for myself and some of my closest friends
went on the weekend and it healed their lives. If you know of someone
who needs this, practice saying “Retrouvaille” and invite
them to check it out.
e-mail Father Ralph:
Past
Columns:
November 9: Blood and Food
November 2: Did you Know?
October 26: Visiting the
Pope
October 19: Rome-ing Around
October: 12: Lost in Translation
October 5: Violence and Life
Sept 28: Flip Flopping
Sept 21: Congratulations
Socorro!
Sept 14: Lift High the Cross
Sept 7: Happy 90th Birthday
August 31: From "saint"
to "Satan"
August 24: So you're not
the Pope
August 17: When God says
"no"
August 10: The Tiny Whispering
Sound
August 3: A Proud and Tender
Moment
July 27: What
would you ask for?
July 20: Waiting
for the Wheat
July
13: What we Wear
uly
6: We Welcome Westbrook
June
29: Sommer in the Summer
June 22: Welcome
Father Jaime
June 15: Father
Gonzalo Lopez
June 8: What happened
on Sunday
June 1: Where
do you belong?
May
25: We are the Body of Christ
May 18: Trinity,
It's About Unity
May 11: We are
One in the Spirit
May 4: Who's in
Your Top Twelve?
April 27: Now
that he's gone...
April 20: Yay
Deacons!
April 13: Here
comes the Pope
April 6: Fresh Oil
March 30: What are you doing
for Easter?
March 23: Can Easter come
too early?
March 16: Which crowd is
yours?
March 9: We believe, yet...
March 2: Oil or Mud
February
24: What are you thirsting for?
February 17: Who are You
Wearing?
February 10: Just Say No
February
3: The January
20: Being Safer
January 13: Conversations
in 2008
January 6: Matthew's Magi
December 30:
What's Next?
Columns from
2007
Columns
from 2005
Columns
from 2004
Columns
from 2003
Columns from 2002
There
are some really tough situations in some marriages. Do you know of someone
who is suffering in their marriage? Maybe only it’s a “little
bit bad” -- the couple is drifting apart emotionally, living together
physically, but really living their lives as single people who happened
to be married to each other. Maybe some are enduring a marriage “for
the sake of the children.” And then there are the more dramatic
and severe problems -- infidelity, abuse, addictions, and all sorts of
“war.”
Some are planning their exit strategy.
They talk to friends who have gone through divorce. They go off to see
a lawyer. Some seek counselling and the counselor starts to suggest that
this marriage is over.
Dear friends, I have seen countless marriages who looked like some of
the above -- even all of the above. People live in constant pain and distress.
They can take it out on their children or their parents or other family
members. The suffering goes on and on.
Marriages that are in distress
and marriages that have ceased to be fulfilling don’t need to continue
that way. There is actually hope to rediscover the love, trust, and fulfillment
that a couple once hoped for. For the past few years I have been part
of a wonderful marriage program that has healed many, many marriages.
I have seen painful marriages snatched from the jaws of destruction. I
have seen marriages that feel dry and distant return to marriage relationships
that are richly fulfilling and fun and filled with life.
And the amazing thing is that I’ve
seen the turnaround happen in one weekend. Do you know a couple who would
like a chance at turning their marriage around? Please invite them to
consider a Retrouvaille Weekend. I’m part of the team for the December
5th-7th weekend and other weekends are held throughout the year. The team
consists of a priest and couples who have themselves gone through difficulties
in their marriage and have rediscovered peace and fulfillment in their
marriages again. For more information you can go to www.retrouvaille.org
or call the toll free number
(800) 470-2230. It’s time.
