Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

     For all of us called to the Vocation of Marriage (or Vacation of Marriage as I heard mispronounced in a wedding one time) there is a great book I have just discovered.  The title is “For Better…Forever” by Gregory K. Popcak. Dr. Popcak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has his ideas well grounded in the Catholic Faith. You can find more information on Dr. Popcak at the Pastoral Solutions Institute webpage http://www.exceptionalmarriages.com/

     As a budding young Marriage and Family Therapist is it great, for me, to find a text that not only up holds the Catholic Churches idea about Marriage but also challenges each couple (husband & wife) to buck up and work on their marriage. I have personally be even more convicted to work on my marriage as well as to implement these principles into my therapeutic approach with couples. This work does not challenge you to work on your marriage so much as to work on yourself and your part of the marriage. My mom used to tell me growing up that marriage is never 50/50. Sometimes it is 90/10 or 110/-10. Dr. Popcak addresses this and many other great aspects of marriage in this short 235 pages.

     Dr. Popcak also outlines the different types of marriages (Impoverished, Conventional & Exceptional) and describes what the strengths and weaknesses of each marriage are. He provides suggestions in which we as married couples can seek to have “Exceptional Marriages” and not settle for the marriage that we have. This book is a wonderful breath of fresh air (if you have not read it already. Published, 1999) and insight into what our marriages are really about and what we are doing wrong even in the most well intentioned and well oiled relationships.

     Dr. Popcak has many good books that he has written over the years on Relationships (For Better…Forever), Sex (Holy Sex!) and Parenting (Parenting by Grace: Raising Practically Perfect Kids). I will have to provide one disclaimer for his works; don’t read them unless you are ready to do some hard work on your relationships. You cannot read these works without being convicted to put more work and effort in to your family. As with our Catholic faith life our marriages must be in constant conversion closer to what our Lord examples to us in His relationship with the Church (Ephesians 5:23-28). Don’t waste one more minute in raising your spouse closer to Christ as a spotless and unblemished lamb.

     Peace & Prayers,

     CLS