About catholic marriage counseling
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Catholic marriage counseling is readily available for both engaged and married couples. While those looking to get married must go through the pre-cana counseling program prior to their wedding to ensure compatibility, oftentimes priests offer marriage therapy sessions for those having a crisis of faith or marital issues. Group or private sessions are available depending on the parish's programs. The sessions may be held either on church property or elsewhere.
Function
The Catholic church has a vested interest in seeing couples who marry within the church maintain a successful marriage in which religion plays a large part. This is because marriage is considered a sacrament, and divorce is not recognized. A priest will help couples evaluate their relationships to make sure they are good fits together. He will tell them if he thinks otherwise.
Features
Engaged couples meet with a Catholic priest prior to their nuptials to discuss their aspirations for their marriages. An individual couple works out any possible issues in a number of areas. Counseling may be done in groups during weekly sessions or alone with the priest. Those already married can also take advantage of a priest's advice should issues within the marriage arise.
Time Frame
Marriage counseling within the Catholic church can be done either before or after the wedding. Most Catholic churches require couples who are getting married within the church to undergo mandatory counseling sessions by registering for these classes, which are called pre-cana. The program calls for weekly meetings over a period of a month or two- sometimes it only takes on long weekend of full-day counseling and learning sessions. Post-wedding, voluntary counseling through the church can be done whenever a couple feels it is needed to strengthen the marriage and work through conflicts.
Significance
Catholic marriage counseling is important for those looking to bring religious beliefs into their marriages. Couples are encouraged to be honest throughout the sessions for the counseling to be most effective. The priest will ask the pair to reconcile their views on children, household management, finances, and faith prior to entering the marriage. The counseling also outlines certain rules Catholics must follow prior to the wedding, such as being engaged for a full year, not partaking in premarital sex and receiving certain Catholic sacraments.
Geography
Most marriage counseling is done by a priest within the couple's parish. Occasionally, the priest may make house calls. Some Catholic churches sponsor retreats, during which a number of married couples attend an off-site weekend getaway, such as at a camping ground, This is done in order to have one-on-one time and further study Catholicism.
Considerations
Only Catholic couples can take advantage of counseling within the church. If they do not agree with the church's teachings, then it would be advisable to look for assistance outside of the religious arena.
Source: www.ehow.com
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