'Have recourse to Mary': Bishops leads troubled married couples to the Holy Virgin

'If that first love has grown cold, it can be rekindled with a humble request to Jesus, who came to fill the human heart in every way, including the marital dimension.'

Sometimes we fall into relational ruts - and that's perfectly normal. What isn't normal is choosing to turn from our loved ones and choosing to remain angry, sad or unhappy in a relationship blessed by God.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to the Catholic News Agency, Bishop Demetrio Fernández Gonzalez of Cordoba, Argentina, believes we should turn to the Blessed Virgin when we find ourselves questioning our love for our spouses.

In a pastoral letter delivered on January 14, Bishop Gonzalez wrote that love in a marriage is like "the wine at the wedding feast of Cana." He added, "May the good wine of a renewed love never be lacking in each and every one of your homes.

"And when love is gone? it seems that everything is over and the only solution is to go your separate ways. But no. Have recourse to Mary, who said to Jesus: 'They have no wide'. [sic] If Jesus is present, he can make wine in any circumstances ... as he did at the wedding of Cana. 

"If that first love has grown cold, it can be rekindled with a humble request to Jesus, who came to fill the human  heart in every way, including the marital dimension."

Bishop Gonzalez continued, sharing that Christ's first miracle was at the wedding at Cana. The Bishop then reiterated the importance of marriage as "the foundation of the family according to God's plan," and described it as a union between a man and woman "united in the love blessed by God, generously open to life, until death do they part.

"Jesus instituted the sacrament of marriage through which the spouses are consecrated by the Holy Spirit to give themselves completely throughout their lives to one another, in a self-giving of love." Bishop Gonzalez further explained that on such a journey "every day, true love has to be shown anew."

He outlined the importance of the "humble petition of the spouses" so that "there is no lack of the wine of joy in the home, the wine of love that Jesus Christ gave to each of the spouses on their wedding day. Lifelong fidelity is possible, a love that never ends is possible, happiness is possible in marriage, which God himself created and Christ has sanctified."

The Bishop added that couples have "got to humble ask for it with faith every day."

Though Bishop Gonzalez did not mention other ways to deal with marital problems, it is important to also take into account issues that occur each day.

When we have relationship problems, it is important to remember that God wants us to ask Him for help. Sometimes we get angry with the people we love the most and lose sight of what God tells us about love and even sex with our spouse.

Asking Mary to intercede on our behalf certainly will not hurt our relationships, but remember to reach out to Christ, to be more open to communicating with your spouse, and to remember to follow Christ's example to love.

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