Love and Marriage Preparation

By Maureen C. VerSchneider

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, the subject of love is frequently on people’s minds and hearts! I was born on Valentine’s Day. Perhaps that’s why I’m such a romantic! I’ve had a strong calling throughout my life to share the Good News about how much God loves us and how we are created in the loving image of God! When my husband, Michael, and I got engaged, we designed my engagement ring to have a round center diamond that represents God, with diamonds in the shape of a heart on each side. The design symbolizes our hearts joined together in love, with God at the center of our love and our life together. We knew that to have a strong marriage, we needed to have God right in the middle of it! In fact, my husband quoted Psalm 37:4 when he proposed to me at the Marian Shrine, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Well, that has definitely worked for us! We have such a beautiful marriage and are more in love now than the day we got married! Together we have overcome the storms of life. We work side-by-side in ministry and as educators, counselors, and life coaches. We’re blessed to lead Pre-Cana marriage preparation classes to help engaged couples prepare for the sacrament of marriage. The marriage program is called Pre-Cana in recognition of the great wedding feast the Bible tells us of that took place at Cana in Galilee. As noted in John 2:1-12, it was at that wedding celebration that Jesus transformed water into wine and performed His very first miracle. In the “Pre”-Cana (“before” marriage) workshops, men and women learn how the miraculous, transformative sacrament of marriage joins the two together to become one. The Pre-Cana day provides a holistic approach to marriage and addresses the emotional, family, financial, leisure, mental, physical, relationship, romantic, spiritual, and work needs of each person. Each couple’s strengths and growth areas are revealed. Knowing how to overcome difficulties and loss together is critical to a successful marriage. As a result, we teach positive communication and conflict resolution styles. Being in love is more than just a feeling. It requires action and commitment. The workshop is a fun day filled with opportunities for each couple to learn, grow, set goals, discover more about each other, understand their unique love languages, and share their hearts and dreams. Michael and I are so grateful to be marriage preparation facilitators. It is our heart’s desire to help people understand their unique, divine design, true life purpose and have a life filled with abundance, joy, love, peace, passion, and purpose!

Maureen C. VerSchneider is a counselor, life coach, psychology professor, lay minister, and public speaker. She has more than 20 years of experience as a higher education professional. She is passionate about the Lord, love, her family, friends, divinely designed work, the beach, and chocolate!