Linked here is the absolutely beautiful new “Novena for a Happy and Faithful Marriage”, appropriate for both married and engaged couples taken from the writings of the great St. Jose Maria Escriva.  St. Jose Maria had a magnificent understanding of the communal, nuptial, one flesh union and divinely intimate nature of sacramental marriage that is reflected in scripture, the writings of the early Church Fathers, the Saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Bernard of Clairveux, St. Therese’ of Liseux, and of course St. John Paul II the great! Though this work of St. Jose Maria was written decades before St. John Paul II’s glorious Theology of the Body work, it is amazing just how “TOB” these prayers are!  That’s because they reflect profoundly the understanding of marriage “as it was in the beginning….”!

This is a tremendous prayer resource for our own marriages, as well as for our families and loved ones, and indeed for the whole world!  What a great gift to offer couples who are engaged, as well as married couples for an anniversary or other special event….or really any day would be the absolute best day to give this novena as a present.

What would the world look like if we were all praying the prayers of this beautiful novena and receiving its rich fruits??  Ahhhhh…..glorious! St. Jose Maria Escriva, pray for us!

Photo Credit:  Special thanks for the openness of Michael & Erin Franco (devotees of St. Jose Maria Escriva) in allowing me to share this beautiful picture of their first dance together as husband and wife.