Catechism of the Catholic Church - Section 1642 - Reflecting on
(1642) Christ is the source of this grace. Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony. Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
The whole paragraph lays out and defines the beautiful gift from God for helping married couples through the difficulties that they face in a broken and sinful world. It starts off with stating that Christ is the sources of this grace, and He offers it to us because He loves us, is faithful to us, and He follows in the footsteps of His Father. The second sentence also reflects this when it asserts “Just as of old God encountered His people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony.” With this said, I feel confident in saying that Christ wants our marriages to succeed even more than we, as couple, do and is willing to help us through His grace.
How? “Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love.” He offers us the grace, strength, perseverance, patience, and courage to accomplish all of these challenges in life, if we are willing to ask for the grace, submit to His will, follow His precepts and laws, and truly open our heart to sacrificial and self-giving love for our spouse. No, it’s not easy, but with God’s grace, it is possible. But it does demand our docility to His Will.
ACTION STEP: This week, ask Christ for the grace, to love your spouse more deeply and patiently, and the grace to overcome the urges to be angry, selfish, or harsh.