Para seguir casado se necesitan tres - Padre Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros

Summary

In this reflection, Father Ángel Espinoza de los Monteros emphasizes the importance of God's presence in marriage. While two people— a man and a woman— are needed to get married, three— the couple and God— are essential to stay married. He highlights the struggles of marriage in today’s changing world and the increasing rates of divorce. Father Espinoza underscores that while human efforts alone may fail, with God's grace, even lifelong fidelity is possible. He encourages integrating faith into daily life, family traditions, and prayer to strengthen relationships.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Marriage requires three: a man, a woman, and God to succeed, not just two people.
• 📖 Jesus taught that divorce was permitted due to the hardness of human hearts, but it was not part of God's original design.
• 💒 A serious commitment like marriage is a challenge, especially in today’s world, but with God's grace, it is possible.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Marriage without God is difficult, but with His presence, it can thrive.
• 🛐 Praying together as a family, like attending Mass or saying the rosary, strengthens marriages.
• 💔 The rise of divorce is compared to a pandemic of lack of discernment and love in modern society.
• 🕊️ Life’s challenges—whether in marriage, priesthood, or other aspects—are made easier when God is involved.
• 👴 People live longer now, making long-term commitment in marriage more difficult, but still possible with God’s help.
• 🤲 Despite exceptions (e.g., atheist couples staying married for decades), the speaker emphasizes that excluding God from marriage often leads to challenges.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages doing good, celebrating traditions, and making God an integral part of life and marriage.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video, and what is the main theme of the message?

The speaker is Father Ángel Espinoza de los Monteros, and the main theme of the message is the importance of God in marriage and how a couple needs not only each other but also God's presence to maintain a lasting marriage.

What does Father Ángel say is needed for a marriage to be sustained?

He says that while it takes two people—a man and a woman—to marry, it takes three to stay married: the man, the woman, and God.

What biblical reference does the speaker use to emphasize the importance of keeping a marriage together?

Father Ángel refers to Jesus' words from the Gospel, where He tells the apostles that while Moses allowed divorce due to the hardness of hearts, God’s original intention was for marriage to be lifelong. 'What God has united, let no man separate.'

What is Father Ángel’s perspective on the modern-day understanding of marriage and divorce?

He views modern marriage as challenging because divorce has become widespread. He believes that people have lost discernment and that the absence of God in marriages has contributed to their difficulties.

How does Father Ángel explain the increase in divorces over the last 50 years?

He suggests that societal changes, longer lifespans, and the absence of God in relationships have made marriage more difficult to sustain, leading to an increase in divorces.

Why does Father Ángel say marriage was perceived as easier in the past?

He explains that in the past, people had shorter lifespans, often dying in their mid-40s. Being married for 20-25 years was not seen as challenging, whereas now, with people living into their 70s or 80s, staying married for 40 or more years seems difficult.

What is Father Ángel’s view on exceptions to the rule of marriage without God, such as atheists staying married for many years?

Father Ángel acknowledges that there are exceptions, such as atheists who have been married for 60 years, but he emphasizes that these are rare and not the norm. He likens it to someone surviving a fall from a tall building—it's possible but not typical.

What role does Father Ángel believe God should play in marriage?

He believes God should be an integral part of marriage, present in the home, family traditions, and daily life. He encourages practices such as attending Mass as a family and praying together to strengthen the marriage bond.

How does Father Ángel address the challenges of modern life and marriage?

He recognizes that life, whether marital, priestly, or professional, is full of struggles. He emphasizes that with God's grace, it is possible to overcome these challenges and maintain a committed marriage.

What is the speaker’s final message or blessing to the audience?

Father Ángel encourages everyone to do as much good as they can and offers God's blessings, concluding with a message of hope and gratitude to his audience.