A Special Reflection from Deacon Jim Krupka I am a vigorous defender of marriage. But I also understand that there are times when divorce is the right answer. Suppose one spouse is repeatedly unfaithful or abusive with no serious move to rehabilitate. That spouse is showing that they may never have been committed to the [...]
Sharing God's Creative Work: Growing Old Together Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka Good day friends: This article is the last in the Love in the Family Series. My next series will be a 21 article series based on the mysteries of the Rosary. After an introductory article, each article will address one mystery of the Rosary in [...]
Family: Gathered in the Light of Easter Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka The Second Vatican Council said that lay spirituality takes its “particular character” from what happens in married life. Throughout scripture, we find the message that God dwells in those that live in his ways. The depth of marital love and family is a [...]
The Sweetness of Love in Crisis Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka I get the impression Pope Francis likes good wine. He begins his comments about difficulties in marriage, saying that those who love are like fine wine. The daily experience of marriage gives married life its richness and “body.” The Pope was not the first [...]
Life in the Wider Family Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka Much of our faith history centers on the extended family. The Twelve Tribes of Israel were family as sons of Jacob. We hear the extensive genealogy of Jesus read at the Christmas Vigil (Mt 1:1-25). The Ten Commandments establish the obligation to honor father and [...]
The Love of Mother and Father Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka Pope Francis describes the love of a mother and father for their child as a "spark of God's love." Rare is the entertainment sitcom that shows the dignity of a man and woman, married with children, united in the joy of family. Most of [...]
Joining with God in the Miracle of New Life Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka Pope Francis reminds us that a woman joins with God in a miracle with each pregnancy. There is nothing like it. Life is a miracle! As scientists give us a picture of a universe billions of years old, human life can [...]
Love Made Fruitful Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka In his message on Love in the Family, Pope Francis says, “Love always gives life.” In a world where death comes from a lack of love in many ways, the Pope looks to the family as a place where love can shine in giving life. Fundamentally, as [...]
Love Through Our Ages: The Transformation of Love Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka About a year ago, the U.S. Census Department released some statistics on marriage duration in this country. There is good news. In 2016, 76% of men and 77% of women were in their first marriage among all currently married adults. By 2014, [...]
Marriage and Virginity: Two Forms of Love Submitted by Deacon Jim Krupka Pope Francis ends his section of On Love in the Family, saying, “Virginity and marriage are, and must be, different ways of loving.” A fundamental fact is we cannot live without love. But in our human existence, there are different forms of living [...]