In the fourth session of the 2024 course, Bishop Elie Haddad explained the pre-marriage interview, health and psychological questions, and the spiritual meaning of marriage as a vocation and a domestic church.
This was the fourth session of the marriage preparation course of the Greek Melkite Catholic Diocese of Sidon and Deir El-Qamar, held on Thursday 6 May, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm, at Dar Al Inaya in Salhiyeh, under the title "The Spiritual and Legal Dimensions of Marriage," with His Excellency Bishop Elie Haddad, Archbishop of the diocese.
In the first part, His Excellency gave a detailed explanation of the interview the priest conducts with those about to marry, so that they know all their rights and duties in married life and the necessary details about their partner, especially if one of them lives abroad. He addressed health issues such as illness, infertility, impotence and psychological disorders. Psychiatry is an established science recognized by the Church, and he invited them to seek help from psychologists to uncover disorders that may not be visible, so as to avoid problems in the future. He asked the participants to talk about all these matters together openly and honestly.
On the spiritual dimension of marriage, Bishop Haddad stressed love and self-giving for the sake of the family and one's spouse, and warned against individualism, isolation, withdrawal and narcissism in the relationship. He urged them to open themselves to other families and family groups, to build friendships and to seek help from those with experience in family matters and conflict resolution.
He stressed that marriage is a vocation with its own foundations: married love is friendship, and the family is a domestic church. He asked them to forgive one another, to pray together, and to thank one another and apologize to one another.
The participants then divided into three sharing circles to share their experiences.
Afterwards they prayed the couple's prayer, then wrote down the fruits they had received from the talk and the prayer and shared them with the group. The session ended with prayer.
The course concludes next Sunday, 12 May, with a spiritual and relational day at Metanoia Listening Center in Maghdouche.
