Tag: SmartLoving
Are private wedding vows a good idea, or not?
A new trend for “private vows” at weddings is taking off for people wanting a more intimate ceremony. Understanding why we make vows can help us understand why they’re not necessarily the way to go for Catholics, write Francine and Byron Pirola
The passion, death, and resurrection of marriage
No marriage stays the same—we all go through periods of passion, death, resurrection and recreation. It’s not easy, but there are three things we can do to stay on track as our marriages transform, write Francine and Byron Pirola.
Relationship repair always has two sides
Periods of disconnection are an unfortunate part of every marriage. Relationship Repair takes both an initiator and receiver.
Francine and Byron Pirola: Stonewalling is a silent killer in marriage
Stonewalling – aka ‘the silent treatment’ – is common in many marriages. Never helpful and poorly understood, we ignore it at our risk.
Francine and Byron Pirola: The art and science of communication
We all like to think of ourselves as good communicators. Unfortunately, that usually means, “I have lots to say and I’m not afraid to say it.” That’s because a lot of people equate being talkative with good communication.
Reclaiming St Valentine’s Day
For two decades we’ve promoted the idea of putting the ‘saint’ back into St Valentine’s Day. Every year we blog, pin, post, and remind...
JPII’s theological timebomb
Leading educators tell how the Theology of the Body inspires their work
St Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, his synthesis of the...
Deep Impact Conversations
“How was your day?” It’s one of the most common questions couples ask each other and either leads to a dead-end response like, “fine”...
Francine and Byron Pirola: Joyfully married…sometimes
Advent is a season of penance in preparation for the Lord’s coming; not the first coming which we celebrate on Christmas Day (his birthday),...
Byron and Francine Pirola: When non-believers wed
The human heart yearns to be loved, known and accepted, and to give to our beloved the same love, understanding and acceptance. This longing...
