Posts by Francine & Byron Pirola
Marriage Enemy #1: Lethargy
We asked a marriage counselor friend of ours about why a marriage fails. We were expecting a long complex answer so we already had a bottle of wine open. Yet her answer was short. According to her, if there are no addictions or mental illness involved, then most marriages fail through simple, straight-forward laziness. Almost…
Read MoreBusiness Time
We were reading an article today about an African tribe that refers to sex as the ‘work of the night’. It made us think of this classic from the Flight of the Conchords. Makes us laugh! Enjoy!
Read MoreYour Unique Love Profile
Gratitude: Superfood for Relationships
We all seek happiness and are drawn to the things we believe will make us happy. But sometimes, the things we desire fail to deliver. Whether it’s a lotto payout, the dream job, the celebrity-style wedding or the mega mansion in the best part of town, it often turns out that the things we think…
Read MoreMercy Gospel Reflection: Dec 13
Gospel Reflections for Married Couples 13 December | 3rd Sunday of Advent Saint John the Baptist in this week’s Gospel tells us that in preparing for Christ “if anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.” In order…
Read MoreMercy – The Gift you Give Yourself
The Year of Mercy began on December 8 and forgiveness is in the air. Pope Francis has called this extraordinary Jubilee year to draw attention to the need for mercy at all levels of society and in the church community too. But seeking mercy is not easy and giving it can be equally hard. None-the-less,…
Read MoreAnnulments made easy…really?
In September when Pope Francis announced a reform of the annulment process, media headlines suggested the Church was stepping towards the acceptance of divorce. However, the closing of the Synod on the Family just one month later saw confirmation that the Church would not change its teaching on the indissolvability of marriage. So what is…
Read MoreMaking Peace with Francis
If there is one thing for which the great Saint of Assisi is revered, it’s his peacemaking (feast day: October 4). Pope Francis, through the Year of Mercy is building on his namesake’s priorities and calls us all to seek peace in our homes. Pope Francis’ peacemaker mission is clearly articulated in his Jubilee Year…
Read MoreFor Better or Worse?
Byron and Francine Pirola discuss the importance of hope in navigating the inevitable ‘for worse’ times that afflict our marriages. This short video is a sample from their popular online course, ‘The Marriage Kit’ which has over 500 ocuples enrolled.
Read MoreResilience Of The Marital Kind
Let’s face it – marriage can be a tough gig these days. Living in a culture that almost expects marriage to fail, couples wonder what they can do to immunise their relationship against the tragedy of divorce. Marital resilience starts with a well-grounded understanding of what marriage is and what it isn’t. A lot of…
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