Marriage is a beautiful sacrament where God’s Love is made more manifest in our world, through the vows and lives of the bride and groom. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 2, Section 2, Article 7 is a great place to understand more about this vocation, and yet, it is something that those of us who are married will continue to learn about for a lifetime. God’s Grace is essential in this vocation, as it also is essential for all other Holy Sacraments.

God’s Word is key to establishing a lifelong foundation as husband and wife, for God’s word is meant to breathe life into us. And, I don’t know about you, but honestly, being an imperfect person can be pretty tiring, and I know I need more of God, every day; more of God so I can love my spouse and family better, every day.

Here are the TOP 5 recommended BIBLE VERSES ABOUT MARRIAGE AND MARRIED LIFE:

1. JOHN 2: 1-12

   The Wedding at Cana. It is perhaps surprising, but of course intentional and divinely orchestrated, that Jesus’ first public sign, the first of seven, would be at a wedding. What does that tell you about the importance of the celebration of such a holy sacrament?

2. ECCLESIASTES 4: 8-10

   “ […] those all alone with no companion, with neither child nor sibling—with no end to all their toil, and no satisfaction from riches. For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things? This also is vanity and a bad business. Two are better than one: They get a good wage for their toil. If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help.”

   The Bible presents a practical presentation of why getting married and staying married is important. Lest we remind you, man was never meant to be alone. And for good measure, remember, you are never alone <3

3. HEBREWS 13: 1-6

4. EPHESIANS 5: 21-33

Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

5. 1 CORINTHIANS 13

Of course, the whole thing. All of it. #GOALS. But especially verses 4-7:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I once was asked to try this exercise and now I challenge you to try it!

Take 1 Corinthians 13, and as you read it, replace the word “Love” with your name. Then, read it again. How are we stacking up to what Love should be? God is Love, so are we aiming for God’s goals of Love? Especially since God has asked us very clearly to Love our Neighbor as ourselves. KYRIE ELEISON. That one is very important.