The Sacrament of Marriage

The sacrament of marriage creates the perfect conditions for the transmission of life, so that a new person may come into the world in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect.
God makes married couples His partners by enabling them to participate in the work of creation. Through marriage, the Holy Spirit enables the couples to build a family that is open to life and capable of withstanding the numerous and complex challenges of our time.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we consecrate our marriage to you: our minds, our momories, our bodies, and souls. Teach us to love each other and our children with the love that flows from Your Merciful Heart. Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a pure heart modeled upon yours, that together we might perfect a love that is wise, generous, faithful and free from self-interest, a love that steadfastly upholds your laws and commandment. May daily family prayer, the rosary, the chaplet of Divine mercy, Holy Mass, and frequent reception of the Eucharist assist us in this endeavor. May we confess at once every sin through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Grant that we may continually draw on the graces, which you make available to us through the Sacrament of Marriage.
Lord Jesus, be master of our hearts. Teach us to control our sexual desires and feelings that our love for each other and our children may not be subject to our moods and emotional states. Rather, may our love be a continual expression of our care and solicitude for each other. Grant us the gift of pure conjugal love that we may give of ourselves generously. Cleanse our love of all selfishness that we may always forgive and pray for each other without nursing grudges. To remain pure in heart, we vow never to read, buy or look at pornographic materials. We pledge never to use contraceptives and always to be ready to accept every child that God may send us. Lord, help us to avoid everything that ensnares, enslaves or incites to evil.
Mary, our Mother, guide us in our journey of faith. Lead us to the very Source of Love - to Jesus, that we may trust and believe in Him alone. After the example of Blessed John Paul II, we entrust ourselves to you: Totus Tuus, Mary! To your immaculate Heart we confide ourselves totally, all that we are, every step we take and every minute of our lives. Amen.

Courtesy: Love One Another, www.loamagazine.org