The Ends of Marriage & Graces
Catholic Intimacy is partially a response to the plethora of erroneous marriage resources claiming to be Catholic. On one side we have Jansenists, who think that they are traditional, and on the other we have liberals who are pure hedonists. Catholic theology on marriage falls well between these two extremes, unfortunately the Church’s teachings on the matter can be rather difficult to find, unless you read Latin and have access to old theological manuals. Fortunately for us, I do read Latin, I do have a collection of reputable manuals in my library, and I have over ten years of formation to know how to read them and explain them for you.
Beauty, Confidence, and Lingerie
In the same way that makeup is a confidence booster for your face, lingerie can be this way in the bedroom. It’s meant to enhance your already gorgeous figure and highlight what your husband probably loves most about your body.
Family Prayers: Spiritual Intimacy
We all know that daily prayer is essential for a healthy spiritual life, but how are we doing on this front? How much and how often should we strive to pray as a family? The short answer is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Some families might have the time and resources to go to daily Mass, weekly adoration, daily Rosary, etc. Other families might not realistically be able to do all that.
Intimacy Amidst Infertility
Of course he wanted to jump in and rescue me from myself, and assure me I shouldn’t feel that way, but I needed to give it to God. James’s reassurance was a band-aid to a much deeper issue that I felt like I should be in charge of my own timeline and I didn’t trust that the Lord would fulfill his promises to me.
A Wife’s Submission
Submission. It can bring up a lot of quick feelings. While I think most Catholic women are aware of this topic and the bible verses that mention it, not so many practice it.
The Servant King: the Nature of a Husband
There is an ongoing debate in Catholic circles, especially Traditional Catholic circles, about the appropriate or ideal gender roles in the family. While that is an important topic and one that we will discuss in greater detail in future blog posts, I think that it is important to remember that being precedes action. So the roles of man and wife should flow as an authentic expression of the natures of man and wife.
Dating Your Spouse
Knowing every single thing about the other person isn’t the goal. The goal is committing to continue to learn about this person for the rest of your life.
Spoons and Scales: Tools for more than just the kitchen
Every person brings their own experience, beliefs, and perspectives to the table for every single interaction. These expectations drive emotions and can either create or destroy intimacy, depending on how they’re handled.
Three Hour Conversations
When was the last time you and your beloved had a three hour conversation? And I don’t mean three hours of smalltalk over the course of a date night. I mean a heart-to-heart, one-on-one dialogue. This website is the fruit of one such conversation. Moving to Saint Louis from Nashville was the fruit of another. Our marriage was the fruit of another. Our first date came of yet another.
Can sex be meritorious?
When sex comes up in Catholic circles it is usually as something immoral (fornication, adultery, etc.) or as that fun thing that married couples do to make babies. It is much rarer to hear anyone say that sex can be meritorious. It’s as though most Catholics believe that even within the bonds of marriage sex is morally tolerated, i.e. a fault or morally indifferent, but not something that is pleasing to God. Let’s look more closely at what makes an act meritorious or sinful to better understand the marital act and what that means for our moral lives.
