How Catholics Can Pray for Marriages

God created marriage to be one of life’s most beautiful blessings. But these days, it seems like healthy, happy marriages are becoming difficult to find.

Are you in need of prayers to save a marriage today, whether it be your own marriage or someone else’s? Whatever the situation, understanding Catholic prayers for marriage and scriptures to pray for marriage can help you seek God’s intervention in your marriage situation.

Why Should Catholics Pray for Marriages?

Why Should Catholics Pray for Marriages?

Catholics have the great privilege of being able to approach God in prayer for any needs that could arise. In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus says that if we ask, we will receive, if we seek, we will find, and if we knock, the door will be opened to us. These are encouraging words to anyone in need, especially when you’re seeking wisdom to navigate a complex situation.

The truth is that for many people, marriage is one of those complex situations. You can talk to people who have been married for 50 years, and you’ll discover that they experience moments of hardship or confusion they have to work through together. If they’re believers, they’ll tell you that they only had so much success in their marriage because they intentionally prayed about it every step of the way.

Here are three common instances when Catholic prayers for marriage are crucial:

For Blessings Within a Marriage

Whether you’re just starting the journey of marriage or you’ve been married for years, you can always pray that you and your spouse will experience countless blessings within your marriage. A healthy marriage is a wonderful union where both people experience the blessings that result from their devotion to one another.

Make sure you’re always practicing gratitude and keeping your eyes open for the blessings that exist as a result of your marriage. Count them every day and focus on them above the struggles. If you feel like your marriage is in need of a boost of blessings, ask God in your Catholic prayers for marriage blessings. God wants to bless you and your spouse for keeping Him at the center of your marriage.

For Help When a Marriage Is in Trouble

When a marriage is in trouble, the best and first course of action you should take is to go to God in prayer. Catholic prayers for marriages in trouble are powerful and can help each individual see the areas in their lives where they need to improve. It can also help you as the person praying to ground yourself on the truth that God is in control of every situation, including this one.

Praying with your spouse when your marriage is in trouble also has some practical benefits that stem from spiritual ones. Sharing in prayer with your spouse can help your problems seem more manageable and help you and your spouse remember that you’re a team.

For Restoration Post-Annulment

Annulment is not the ideal outcome of any marriage, but it does happen. For a marriage to be truly binding, it must meet a set of criteria defined by the Catholic Church. If the Church determines that a particular marriage fell short of one or more of these criteria, then the marriage can be deemed null.

If you have experienced an annulment, then you should go to God in prayers for marriage restoration. Whether you’re seeking restoration with your ex-spouse or you want restoration with your Catholic brothers and sisters in the Church, God will hear your prayers and guide your next steps.

7 Bible Verses About Marriage

As you say your prayers for married couples, you should also stay rooted in the Word of God. Here are seven scripture prayers for marriage restoration to help you as press onward in your situation:

Genesis 2:24

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” — Genesis 2:24.

Genesis recounts the creation story, including the beginning of the human race. As early as the second chapter, God gives two insights into His plan for human relationships.

First, when a man becomes married, he must leave his parents to be with his wife and her alone. This means that his wife becomes his first priority above all other earthly relationships.

The second insight is that when a marriage occurs, the husband and wife become “one body.” This is how God looks at marriages. You and your spouse are one, and striving to function as one can help foster unity.

1 Corinthians 7:3

“The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.” — 1 Corinthians 7:3.

For a marriage to be a success, it requires both the husband and the wife to fulfill their duties to the other. Of course, there is teamwork involved — when one person is struggling, the other can help them and pick up the slack. We see this in more detail in a later verse on this list in Ecclesiastes.

Here, the Apostle Paul is reminding married couples they must put aside selfishness. Some days, you or your spouse may feel like you want to do life alone. Remember that you both have a duty to each other and should find joy in the opportunities to show your spouse you care by investing in those opportunities.

James 1:19

“Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…” — James 1:19.

Marriage can be a beautiful thing, but it can also test your patience. When two people come together, they’re going to do things to annoy the other person, even accidentally. If they are unaware of these things at first, they will surely find them out over time.

These wise words from James can apply to everyone around the world, but especially Catholics who must set themselves apart from the world. If you are in a Catholic marriage or know someone who is, remember to spend more time listening than speaking when your spouse is upset. If they do something to anger you, remember these words to keep a cool head.

Proverbs 3:3

“Do not let love and fidelity forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” — Proverbs 3:3.

In this life, we must embrace love and fidelity in everything we do. Like the writer of this proverb says, we should remember love and fidelity as if we were wearing them around our necks like necklaces. In a more powerful image, the writer says we should write them on the tablets of our hearts — meaning, make love and fidelity a true part of who we are as people.

Even when it seems hard in your marriage, you must remember to maintain love and fidelity between you and your spouse. If you put those virtues above tempting vices, then you can be sure that your marriage will be better for it.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one: They get a good wage for their toil. If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

This verse makes a simple statement that spouses everywhere should remember — two are better than one. When life gets you down, you can count on your spouse to pick you up before anyone else. Likewise, you can help them when the weight of the world starts to weigh heavy on their shoulders.

We also get a harrowing warning at the end of this passage. The person who is alone lacks the luxury of the couple mentioned before. As you navigate your marriage situation, remember these words and cherish the fact that you have someone who can help you when you need it most — and someone who you can help, too.

Ephesians 5:33

“In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.” — Ephesians 5:33.

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, difficulties in selflessness and respect have arisen between married couples. In this verse, we get some practical instructions on how husbands and wives should treat each other based on Biblical teachings. Every marriage must consist of genuine mutual love and respect for one another.

If you seek God’s will and follow His timeless commands as laid out in Scripture, you will find that your marriage can be more beautiful and joyful than anything the world might say to the contrary.

Proverbs 18:22

“To find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the LORD.” — Proverbs 18:22.

This verse talks about the happiness a husband receives from his wife, but it can also apply to wives receiving happiness from their husbands. This proverb states that finding a spouse is a favor granted by God. If you are saying Catholic prayers for a troubled marriage, remember that God granted you favor in finding your spouse. Now is the time for you and your spouse to choose happiness over strife.

Saints to Pray to for Marriages

As you say your Catholic prayers for marriage healing, you can remember the following saints whose lives and teachings can help you overcome your marriage trials.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph

One of the best examples of a good husband in the Bible is St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. Both husbands and wives can look to St. Joseph’s life for inspiration on how to be a good spouse through the good times and the bad.

St. Joseph was a hard worker, providing for Mary and Jesus throughout his life. He was their guide during their travels and protected them when they were in danger. He also obeyed God’s commands and continued loving Mary even when she divinely became pregnant with Jesus. St. Joseph knew his role and honored God by treating his small family with kindness, dedication and commitment.

St. Adelaide of Burgundy

St. Adelaide of Burgundy is the saint to invoke for widows who want to get married again or have already re-married. St. Adelaide of Burgundy married King Lothaire of Italy at the age of 16, but she became a widow when she was only 18 years old.

She ended up in prison when her husband’s enemy assumed the throne. She eventually escaped and married the Christian Emperor Otho I, who became her second husband and took the kingdom from her previous husband’s enemy.

As empress, she used her wealth and authority to help those in need. Even when she became a widow for the second time, she continued helping people and commissioned several religious houses to be built. Widows can remember St. Adelaide of Burgundy, knowing that their work for Jesus can continue even during hard or sad times.

St. Valentine

When people think of love, they often think of St. Valentine, who is the patron saint of love and happy marriages. St. Valentine’s first love was Jesus, and he followed Jesus’ teachings all his life. It even resulted in his martyrdom by Claudius II, the emperor of Rome at the time.

Young couples thinking about marriage or just starting marriage can remember St. Valentine in their prayers. Couples who are years into marriage can also remember his example and teachings, inspiring them to recommit to a healthy and happy marriage.

St. Monica

Married women and mothers can look to St. Monica for help with their relationship woes. St. Monica was married to an unbeliever who constantly maligned her for her faith. Through it all, she prayed for the conversion of her husband and their son, Augustine, together.

Through tears and sorrow, St. Monica stayed faithful to her husband. Eventually, God answered her prayers. Her husband, her husband’s mother who lived with them and their son Augustine all believed in Jesus and changed their ways. Augustine would even go on to become a saint, as well.

St. Monica serves as a reminder that there is always hope in marriage. You must stay faithful to your spouse and remember to pray for them.

A Catholic Prayer for Marriage

If you need prayer for your marriage situation today, then we invite you to share in the following prayer with us.

Send Your Prayer Intentions to Catholic World MissionSend Your Prayer Intentions to Catholic World Mission

If you would like us to lift up your requests on your behalf, then we humbly ask that you send us your prayer intentions today. God can still perform a miracle for your marriage or the marriage of your loved ones.

If you would like to help us make a difference in the world through evangelization and education, then we also ask that you donate to our cause. It’s through the generosity of donors like you that we can share the good news of Jesus and help people escape lives of physical and spiritual poverty and experience a new life in Christ.

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