This tool is to help the couple to Reflect upon their past family life, identify critical areas which may have an impact upon their future marriage and discuss their family with their fiancee and with the priest.

• The state of marriage is different than years ago.  Many engaged couples today come from broken homes or wounded families which require a more in-depth preparation.   This instrument is intended to help couples better evaluate their own preparedness for marriage and to better share with one another some of their unvoiced concerns.

•  The most significant marriage preparation effecting the couple takes place throughout the history of their family.  The goal of this tool is to help the couple to:

  • Reflect upon their past family life.

  • Identify critical areas which may have an impact upon their future marriage:

    •  positive factors which will bring hope for the future and may be related to Divine Providence.

    • negative factors which may need to be addressed or at least recognized as having a potential impact upon their marriage.

• Discuss their family with their fiancee and with you.

• The priest is in the role of the spiritual advisor and counselor and to administer the sacraments.  His evaluation would be no different than the present practice.

• The instrument does not require a “professional” evaluation.  Most priests can supply common sense and pastoral responses to counseling needs.  If the need for a professional opinion is perceived the priest might recommend that the couple seek consultation.

• In most cases the instrument will help the couple to better understand each other.  In rare cases the couple may see the need to prolong their preparation. The priest may affirm their decision.

• Once written it can be reviewed in 5-10 minutes.  This will save the priest a great deal of time.  Yet it can lead to hours of conversation between the couple

• This is something that the couple does.

• The autobiography will provide the priest with information in the most efficient manner