Marriage Creed

April 2 this year would have been the 73rd Wedding Anniversary of my paternal grandparents. During their 40th anniversary in 1978, they have published a Mass booklet which contained their Marriage Creed. Whether you are married, getting married or considering marriage I hope you’ll find this inspiring.

P – Preserve your mutual respect…for your respective needs and rights. Remember that each is a person of flesh and blood, entitled to his or her own choices and mistakes. Each owns himself, and has the right to equality.

A – Accept each other as you are. Every individual has his own share of good as well as weak points. No one has the monopoly of good qualities.

U – Utilize every opportunity to strengthen your union. Let no one nor anything come between you and your life partner. Not friend, not money, not your business. Your union is “until death do us part.”

L- Love each other as much as you can. Love is your eternal source of renewing and revitalizing yourselves. Love makes everything bearable, pleasant, enjoyable. Love is manifested in your mutual thoughtfulness, your mutual trust, your mutual care and concern for the needs of each other.

I – Imbue each other with the sense of belonging. You are not mere friends; you are life partners, not looking into each other’s eyes, but rather looking together ahead, remembering that your married life is a stepping stone, a ladder to achieve your ultimate end: your eternal union with God.

N – Never take each other for granted. He/she is entitled to his/her own opinion, or views. Listen to each other – with understanding, patience, open mind. And hear not only words, but also the tone, mood and expression. Learn to listen to understand rather than listening to argue.

O – Openness is the key to understanding and trust. Avoid being secretive, and you’ll avoid creating any suspicion and doubt which can start the erosion of your union. Trust and reveal yourselves to each other, even as the budding rose opens to reveal its fragrance and beauty.

P – Patience is the key to harmony and success in marriage, even as anger, animosity, resentment can wreck the intimate relationship of the couple.

I – Initiate activities that will promote family solidarity and cheerfulness, but at the same time get involved in the activities that promote the welfare of the community and the parish to which you belong. You will find your lives more rewarding and more satisfying if you share with others, especially the less fortunate good things that you have in life.

L – Live your lives the way the candle burns for others to enjoy and benefit from its life. The self-centered person is the most unhappy person, while the person who is generous knows how to share what he himself has received, is the happiest person.

A – Above all, marriage is a vocation, a calling for you to be able to achieve your highest goal – union with God. Marriage is not an end; it is a means to the most glorious, most challenging end – life with God.

R – Responsibility is the sole factor in making your marriage happy, successful, productive, even as irresponsibility, the neglect, the lack of concern, or immaturity can be the damaging factor of an otherwise happy marriage.