In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.

The way to plan the family is Natural Family Planning, not contraception. In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily. – Mother Teresa

Scripture Text: (GN 2:18-25)
The LORD God said:
“It is not good for the man to be alone.
I will make a suitable partner for him.”
So the LORD God formed out of the ground
various wild animals and various birds of the air,
and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them;
whatever the man called each of them would be its name.
The man gave names to all the cattle,
all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals;
but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs
and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built up into a woman
the rib that he had taken from the man.
When he brought her to the man, the man said:

“This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called ‘woman,’
for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother
and clings to his wife,
and the two of them become one flesh.

The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame

Aren’t weddings beautiful? One thing everyone can see at a wedding is the joy on the face of the groom as he sees his bride walking toward him down the aisle of the church. Together, both husband and wife learn that they were created with a unique purpose—and to be a unique and exclusive gift to each other.

At retreats and youth conferences around the world, young women are learning about the dignity they have as daughters of God. Their hearts lighten at the message that the men in their lives are called to treasure and honor them. They are relieved to learn that they don’t have to settle for a lesser way of relating, one based primarily on physical attractiveness or sexual performance. For their part, young men are learning of the high calling they have to honor, protect, and cherish women. They are learning that they are created to give of themselves, not to use people for their own pleasure.

So it’s all about self-gift, not self-gratification. It’s about treasuring the gift that we are to each other. The question is, “How can I become more self-giving?”

We must pray for one another, pray with each other – drag the other to Mass, to confession when they are lazy or procrastinating or distracted. Set a good example for each other. Remind each other of the Gospel, commandments. Correct one another with gentleness and humility. Encourage each other to strive farther in overcoming selfishness, and living our life in love for others.

In preparing for marriage I imagine that you have heard many times “This is your special day.” Or if we are really honest we would say it is the brides’ special day. She decides everything – what color dress her friends have to wear, what songs are sung, what flowers decorate the church… For one day in your life, the world will revolve around you. But I disagree! “Today is not your day.” Today you come to stop thinking about yourselves and to start thinking of others. The gospel teaches us that “it is in losing ones life that one finds it” By giving yourself generously in the task the Church gives us in the Sacrament of Marriage, we will find abundant happiness – today, tomorrow and for eternity.

It is your mission to help your spouse get to heaven. And isn’t that the purpose of life itself, to get to heaven?