Prayer for all loving marriages

Catholic bishops have taken to celebrating "National Marriage Week" every year during the week of Feb. 7-14. In doing so, they hope to bolster their argument that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

We agree that celebrating loving marriages is important. But, we wish to celebrate ALL loving marriages. A while back, Call To Action, in concert with our partners in Equally Blessed, created a prayer which lifts up and honors all loving marriages. Feel free to use this in the coming days as we celebrate the many ways we love and all loving families! Click to download the prayer card.

Loving God,

You who created each of us in Your own image and who called us together in community, We give You thanks for the gift of marriage and for the many couples whose love and commitment to each other reminds us of Your never-ending love for humanity.

We thank You for all the different types of marriages in our world: young couples beginning a life together, as well as couples celebrating decades of love, re-married couples and those who found each other later in life, couples whose marriages are recognized by our state and our Church, and same-sex couples who are denied that recognition but who continue to bravely model love and commitment in the face of discrimination.

We thank You for the many kinds of families that are strengthened by these marriages: families of biological children and adopted children, blended families and families of choice, as well as couples without children who work together to nurture communities of love and justice.

This week, as many are observing National Marriage Week, we ask You to pour Your blessings onto every marriage regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Make each marriage one of love, respect and peace. Guide each couple as they strive to be an example of your love in the world and surround them with family and friends who honor and celebrate their commitment. Help us support marriage and family in all of its diversity and guide us as we speak out against oppression in our Church. Lead us toward the day when all loving unions will be seen as sacred and all couples will have the support and recognition of their faith communities.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, who called us to love one another as we love You,

Amen