Great marriages stem from a growing love, noted author tells crowd
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
Those involved in marriage ministry and couples wanting to strengthen their own marriages gathered in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, Aug. 17 for the “Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage” program, presented by noted theologian Dr. Edward Sri.
“It’s hard to build a strong marriage in today’s world. Couples have so many challenges to overcome before the wedding day,” he said, addressing the more than 100 people in attendance from around the Diocese.
Sri is an author and professor of Theology and Scripture in the Catechesis and Evangelization master’s degree program at the Augustine Institute, Denver, Colo. He also appears regularly on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
During the program, sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, Sri noted that one challenge facing those teaching marriage preparation is offering engaged couples, “a different message about what love is, about what marriage is, about what family life is.”
Sri, a husband and father of seven, also shared the oft-quoted statistic that almost half of marriages in the United States end in divorce. He then focused on what he refers to as “the other 50 percent” and that within the percentages of couple who remain married, only 12 percent say they married their best friend.
“Great marriages are when couples who have been married for a number of years look at each other and can say, ‘I love you more today than when we first married,’” he said. “Great marriages grow in love.”
Influences on Marriage
Sri encouraged couples to recognize that marriage preparation begins long before the engagement ring is placed on a woman’s finger, suggesting preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony actually begins when one is young.
“They [children] see mom and dad – their parents are the biggest influencers of marriage,” Sri stated.
He outlined practical points for those who help couples prepare for marriage, such as discussions on defining love as looking outward and serving others, referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and considering St. Thomas Aquinas, who said, “To love is to will the good of another.”
Sri also noted how humans are made for love and discussed human sexuality, saying, “What we do with our bodies expresses our very soul.”
He reminded those in attendance that, “marriage is a sacrament, and as couples, we need to draw on that the grace of the sacrament,” saying the vows exchanged by brides and grooms, “draw us more deeply into Christ’s love story with the world.”
“We have this amazing grace we can tap into,” Sri continued. “We can always draw on the grace of the sacrament when things are hard and ask Jesus for help and to love with his love.”
Words of Affirmation
Following the presentation, Msgr. Sam Sirianni, pastor, celebrated Mass. Father Edward Blanchett, pastor in Visitation Parish, Brick, concelebrated.
“Your ministry as husbands and wives is so important,” Msgr. Sirianni said in his homily, affirming the vocation of marriage. “Good families create good priests and religious.”
He continued, “Your marriage, your vocation has been flooded by God’s mercy and grace.”
Mary Yoder, a parishioner at St. Robert Bellarmine, found the discussion positive and “hopes that married couples can set examples,” to younger couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Jefferson, her husband of 20 years agreed. “Young couples just need to know you need to trust God even in times of trouble. Life has ups and downs.”
Fellow parishioner Judy Friedmann also spoke of the importance of building a solid marriage rooted in Christ.
“Marriage is so important, and I wanted to hear someone speak of marriage in relation to the Church,” she said. “It was very well done; he is an excellent speaker,” she said of Sri.
Anthony and Gabriella Privetera, who have been married four years, said they are familiar with Sri, having participated in Sri’s award-winning, faith-formation series, “Beloved,” at St. Anthony Parish, Red Bank.
“He is an excellent speaker, and his talk provides a different perspective on marriage. He’s very inspiring,” Anthony Privetera offered.
His wife concurred. “It was excellent. To succeed in your marriage, you need God, and programs like this can only help.”
For more information on Dr. Sri and his faith-formation series, “Beloved,” please visit, https://www.augustineinstitute.org/.
[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
Thursday, December 25, 2025
E-Editions
Events
By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
Those involved in marriage ministry and couples wanting to strengthen their own marriages gathered in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, Aug. 17 for the “Beloved: Finding Happiness in Marriage” program, presented by noted theologian Dr. Edward Sri.
“It’s hard to build a strong marriage in today’s world. Couples have so many challenges to overcome before the wedding day,” he said, addressing the more than 100 people in attendance from around the Diocese.
Sri is an author and professor of Theology and Scripture in the Catechesis and Evangelization master’s degree program at the Augustine Institute, Denver, Colo. He also appears regularly on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
During the program, sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, Sri noted that one challenge facing those teaching marriage preparation is offering engaged couples, “a different message about what love is, about what marriage is, about what family life is.”
Sri, a husband and father of seven, also shared the oft-quoted statistic that almost half of marriages in the United States end in divorce. He then focused on what he refers to as “the other 50 percent” and that within the percentages of couple who remain married, only 12 percent say they married their best friend.
“Great marriages are when couples who have been married for a number of years look at each other and can say, ‘I love you more today than when we first married,’” he said. “Great marriages grow in love.”
Influences on Marriage
Sri encouraged couples to recognize that marriage preparation begins long before the engagement ring is placed on a woman’s finger, suggesting preparation for the Sacrament of Matrimony actually begins when one is young.
“They [children] see mom and dad – their parents are the biggest influencers of marriage,” Sri stated.
He outlined practical points for those who help couples prepare for marriage, such as discussions on defining love as looking outward and serving others, referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and considering St. Thomas Aquinas, who said, “To love is to will the good of another.”
Sri also noted how humans are made for love and discussed human sexuality, saying, “What we do with our bodies expresses our very soul.”
He reminded those in attendance that, “marriage is a sacrament, and as couples, we need to draw on that the grace of the sacrament,” saying the vows exchanged by brides and grooms, “draw us more deeply into Christ’s love story with the world.”
“We have this amazing grace we can tap into,” Sri continued. “We can always draw on the grace of the sacrament when things are hard and ask Jesus for help and to love with his love.”
Words of Affirmation
Following the presentation, Msgr. Sam Sirianni, pastor, celebrated Mass. Father Edward Blanchett, pastor in Visitation Parish, Brick, concelebrated.
“Your ministry as husbands and wives is so important,” Msgr. Sirianni said in his homily, affirming the vocation of marriage. “Good families create good priests and religious.”
He continued, “Your marriage, your vocation has been flooded by God’s mercy and grace.”
Mary Yoder, a parishioner at St. Robert Bellarmine, found the discussion positive and “hopes that married couples can set examples,” to younger couples preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Jefferson, her husband of 20 years agreed. “Young couples just need to know you need to trust God even in times of trouble. Life has ups and downs.”
Fellow parishioner Judy Friedmann also spoke of the importance of building a solid marriage rooted in Christ.
“Marriage is so important, and I wanted to hear someone speak of marriage in relation to the Church,” she said. “It was very well done; he is an excellent speaker,” she said of Sri.
Anthony and Gabriella Privetera, who have been married four years, said they are familiar with Sri, having participated in Sri’s award-winning, faith-formation series, “Beloved,” at St. Anthony Parish, Red Bank.
“He is an excellent speaker, and his talk provides a different perspective on marriage. He’s very inspiring,” Anthony Privetera offered.
His wife concurred. “It was excellent. To succeed in your marriage, you need God, and programs like this can only help.”
For more information on Dr. Sri and his faith-formation series, “Beloved,” please visit, https://www.augustineinstitute.org/.
[[In-content Ad]]