Daring Promise: A Spirituality of Christ: A Spirituality of Christian Marriage

by Richard R. Gaillardetz

Book Overview

Christian marriage offers the daring proposition that, inspired by faith, two people might unconditionally bind themselves together for life without destroying each other in the process! This revised and updated edition offers a set of honest and penetrating reflections on the challenges of living faithful Christian marriage today.

Chapter 1: Alerts couples to today's cultural forces that shape their understanding and practice of married...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764815598
• ISBN13: 9780764815591
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Liguori Publications
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Concise, Insightful, Real

I have used this book in recent years (with the first edition) with two different couples' groups seeking greater depth and insight into a Christian spirituality of marriage. I find that it neither glosses over nor gets sidetracked by the critical issues facing those who have embarked upon this daring proposition. It is solidly grounded in and articulates well the basics of Catholic Christian spirituality. I have also given it as a gift to several couples that I have worked with in preparation for their wedding and living their married life. The fact that Gaillardetz is himself living the vocation he is speaking to helps the presentation to be integrally connected to the reality he experiences and not divorced from it. I recommend it for anyone who seeks greater insight into this awesome and challenging vocation--if you dare!

Clear, concise, and on target

A common understanding of salvation centers around "getting to heaven," which is achieved by holding the correct beliefs and attending the right church. If this is your primary understanding of salvation, this book may be troublesome for you. Gaillardetz's thesis is that for married couples, our marriage is the setting where, and the means by which, many of us "work out" our salvation. This book made a lot of sense to me, both practically and theologically. RG does a great job of combining teachings from the Christian tradition and modern psychology. A crucial insight from the latter is that we subconsiously choose to marry people who force us to revisit our childhood wounds; the recurring conflicts you have with a spouse are opportunities to address those wounds (and thus work out your salvation). Unfortunately, when couples face recurring marital problems, they often think that maybe they didn't marry "the one" they were destined to marry. Gaillardetz dispells this false notion as well.Gaillardetz has served on the Catholic delegation in the Methodist-Catholic dialogues, and his writing reflects his ecumenical sensitivity. As a Methodist myself (married to a Catholic), I very much appreciate his tone. It is a pleasant change from those Catholic authors who write with what I call the "fullness of truth" attitude.I also appreciate the author's sensitivity to those who are unable or choose not to have children.Overall, I highly recommend this book to Christians (Catholics and non-Catholics alike) who seek a practical framework for making sense of Christian marriage.

Solid Theology rooted Deeply in Experience

I used this book as one text for an undergraduate Christian Marriage class. Students found the book to be readable and insightful. The author excels at weaving together his experiences as a father and husband with theological insights that are exceptionally sophisticated for books of this genre. His use of the paschal mystery as central to the vocation of married life is both original and particularly effective. I must disagree with those who say that G is unfaithful to the magisterial teaching on contraception. On the contrary, he presents the official teaching accurately and sympathetically. At the same time he is candid about the difficulty of adhering strictly to the discipline of natural family planning, but cautions readers against ignoring the discipline simply because it isn't easy. My only disappointment with the book lies in the fact that the discussion questions posed are geared exclusively to married people. A broader base of questions would have been more helpful. Otherwise, this is an excellent, sophisticated book for use in undergraduate theology courses on marriage.

Matrimony - Perilous Promises

I have just finished reading A Daring Promise and agree with Gaillardetz that marriage, when taken seriously, is not an easy vocation to embrace. When my husband and I married over 31 years ago we thought we were mature and entering this state with our eyes wide open. We were mature - for our age - but that didn't mean we wouldn't have a lot of growing and forgiving to do as we evolved into a more deeply loving couple. As the Engaged Encounter movement puts it, "A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime." I liked the way the author demythologizes common romantic images of marriage and helps couples see that true love involves more than good feelings. The honest sharing of Gaillardetz own marriage gave me hope. If a theologian and happily married husband has felt discouragement and annoyance at his spouse, then it is not so surprising that the rest of us experience these emotions also. None of us fully appreciates the challenges that will be thrust upon us when we say the marriage vows. We make them out of foolishness and love. The challenge then is to live up to them. Gaillardetz helps us see this in a holy but non-pietistic way. Thanks for a seminal work.

Another Winner!

This is a thoroughly contemporary vision of Catholic marriage...yet combines the riches of tradition. Gaillardetz is a well-known ecclesiologist and a father of four. In Daring Promises he combines both vocations to give a wonderful vision of Christian marriage. The book comes alive with stories and experiences from the author's life. A rich and important addition to anyone looking for a spirituality of marriage. It can also be used for a workshop tool, since each chapter is followed by reflection questions.