Marriage
The love of man and woman "tends to rise 'in ecstasy'
towards the Divine, to lead us beyond ourselves" (Pope Benedict
XVI, God is Love, n. 5).
St. Joseph Parish invites couples to find nourishment in their
personal journey to become witnesses of holiness and charity. Where
family life is strong and healthy, it helps build that
"civilization of life and love" which must be everyone's aim. When
the family is weak, all human relationships are exposed to
instability and fragmentation (Pope John Paul II, Springtime
of Evangelization, 95).
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between the spouses. The
consent the man and woman freely and mutually give to each other
creates an eternal institution. Their love is a reflection of
divine love. This love is confirmed, purified and completed in
Jesus Christ, given through the Sacrament of Matrimony.
The intimate union of marriage, conjugal love involves a
totality, in which all the elements of the person enter - appeal of
the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration
of the spirit and will. A deeply personal unity demands
indissolubility, faithfulness in mutual giving and openness to
fertility. Children then are the supreme gift of marriage.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1638 - 1651)
Natural Family Planning
The
Archdiocesan Office of Natural Family Planning coordinates and
promotes information for all five models of Natural Family Planning
methods at 13 different locations in the Archdiocese to all
Archdiocesan Marriage Preparatory programs through the Office of
Laity and Family Life, the St. Louis Review, Parish
Bulletins and through individual priests and marriage preparers who
request specific information.
Marriage Preparation
Couples seeking to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony should
meet with a priest at the parish at least six months prior to their
planned wedding date. Call the office at (636) 441-0055 to make an
appointment. Marriage preparation classes are also required. Click
here to view a list of current classes.