And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Consider a young couple on their wedding day, so full of love and hope. Guided by the priest, the couple made a three-strand cord, a braid, just as you do now. Both the bride and the groom agreed to cling to both God and one another for the rest of their days, just moments before they sealed their promise with vows, rings, and a kiss.
And for a while they did. But when life stretched them, he loosened his grip. Instead of serving the Lord, he tied a green string of riches into their marital cord. Rather than holding to the truth of scripture, he gripped the glittering thread of popularity. And so it continued, with each new diversion tying knots into their lives.
The bride struggled to sift through their tangled marriage. She clung on to her vows, her husband, and the Lord, until her knuckles turned white and tears soaked every fiber of her soul.
And so it continued through the decades until he let go of both God and his bride to cling to another, leaving his wife clinging to God with one hand, the other burned hand flailing in the wind. Their vows severed and her heart worn thin, she stopped grasping for her husband’s heart and walked away. She still holds fast to God’s promises, weaving a new life, a tapestry of healing, hope, and even joy in the God who is always faithful and never lets go.
Reflection
Friends, this is true story, but it doesn’t have to be your story. I invite you now to think back to the day you made your vows. Do you remember what was preached that day? What advice were you given about how to protect and preserve the new life you were about to begin?
Hear your voice and feel your heart beat as it did when you said I do. Remember looking into your spouse’s eyes, and hear their voice as they gave the rest of their life to you.
Now think about the time that has passed, the decisions you’ve made, and the habits you’ve formed since that day. What distractions have you brought into your marriage? What do you need to let go of? It’s okay, we all make mistakes. This moment isn’t about guilt or blame. It’s about reflection, acknowledgment, and the mercies of every new day.
Husbands, Christ gave everything to His bride. How do you cherish your wife as Christ does the church?
Wives, remember God made you to be your husband’s helper. How do you honor him and help him to be the leader he is called to be?
Take a moment to consider how you can hold your God a little tighter and your spouse a little closer each day.
Prayer for Your Marriage
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Dear Saint Joseph,
Foster father of our Lord Jesus and most chaste spouse of the blessed Virgin Mary, we turn to you for your powerful intercession. You who protected the Holy Family with unfailing love and integrity, guide our marriage with your wisdom, inspire us to live with the same faithfulness and devotion, seeking always the good of each other and our family.
Assist us in our daily struggles and joys, and help us to grow in patience, humility and self-sacrifice. May our love reflect the love of God, and may we always be united in heart and purpose.
Saint Joseph, patron of families, pray for us and protect us.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen
Man and Woman He Created Them: Together with Purpose
The preceding devotion was written for Marriage Week 2026 for St. John Nepomucene Church in Little Chute, WI. The theme for Marriage Week as determined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office was “Man and Woman He Created Them: Together with Purpose.”
The USCCB stresses the importance of spouses to “actively nurture and develop their marriage through intentional daily effort and persistence in life’s challenges.” Together, we must “pursue and encourage the prioritization of, and investment in, a lasting commitment.”
May this devotion and the following resources bless your marriage.
2026 Marriage Week Resources from the USCCB
- NMW 2026 At-Home Retreat.pdf
- NMW 2026 Lectio Divina.pdf
- For Your Marriage
- Fortifying Couples & Families | YouTube
*Quotes taken from an email written by Carla Ferrando-Bowling, Green Bay Diocese Director of Marriage & Family Life.
