Reasons for Preparing for Marriage

Some individuals may wonder why it is necessary to concern themselves with the details of marriage when marriage for them seems so far away. Let’s take a look at the reasons:

1. People are marrying at an earlier age than ever before. In 1890, the average bride was 22 years old; the average groom, 26. Census Bureau figures show that in 1955 the average bride was about 20, the average groom 22^4. Today there are more than 1,000,000 husbands and wives in the United States still in their teens. Experts expect this trend to continue for some time.

2. Although some persons are able to take a marriage course in college, the majority must rely on a high school course or their own reading program. Some dioceses do offer Pre-Cana instruction, but circumstances oftentimes arise which prevent you from attending them.

3. Today, you are being bombarded with more mass media about dating, love and sex than ever before. Only a conscientious study of Christian marriage can hope to rectify the distorted viewpoints found among so many people.

4. You are interested in the subject. A brief glance at the number of question and answer columns on dating, love and marriage more than prove your inquisitiveness. But you need more than information. Proper attitudes to marriage is what is important! This can come about through a systemized course of instructions.

5. The Church has spoken on the need for marriage instructions. Pius XI in his encyclical letter on marriage warns those who approach the sacrament to be “well disposed and well prepared, so that they will be able, as far as they can, to help each other in sustaining the vicissitudes of life, and yet more in attending to their eternal salvation and informing the inner man unto the fullness of the age of Christ.”