Do you often find yourself complaining about your spouse in front of others?

“Married couples joined by love speak well of each other; they try to show their spouse’s good side, not their weakness and faults. In any event, they keep silent rather than speak ill of them. This is not merely a way of acting in front of others; it springs from an interior attitude. Far from ingenuously claiming not to see the problems and weaknesses of others, it sees those weaknesses and faults in a wider context.“

-Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia 113

Do you often find yourself complaining about your spouse in front of others? Do you struggle to find positive qualities in your partner? Is it easier for you to point out their defects and bad habits? If this is the case, we need to stop and reflect on our marriage. How we speak and think about our spouse says a lot about our relationship.

There’s no perfect or easy relationship but if we want love and peace to reign in our marriage, we must focus on the positive qualities of our partner. I’m sure you can find a few. Sometimes it’s necessary to talk about those things that bother us but it’s also important to remember that our spouse is also an imperfect human being who makes mistakes.

Marriage isn’t a “happily ever after” goal we’re trying to achieve. Instead, it’s a journey of faith where spouses help each other, sanctify each other, and exercise mercy on each other as they walk toward their final goal and destination: Heaven...where we, the Church, the Bride, will be eternally united with Jesus Christ, our Bridegroom.

Prayer for Spouses

“Lord Jesus, grant that I and my spouse may have a true and understanding love for each other. Grant that we may both be filled with faith and trust. Give us the grace to live with each other in peace and harmony. May we always bear with one another's weaknesses and grow from each other's strengths. Help us to forgive one another's failings and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness and the spirit of placing the well-being of one another ahead of self.

May the love that brought us together grow and mature with each passing year. Bring us both ever closer to You through our love for each other. Let our love grow to perfection. Amen.”