Catholic Date Ideas: Time For Renewal

Healthy Catholic Marriages have frequent dates!

Research shows, married couples who regularly date, are less likely to consider divorce, more likely to have more romance and report better sex lives, communicate better, and enjoy marriage more! So we have decided to challenge you to AT LEAST one date a month! Need some ideas? Keep reading!

May's Date Night Ideas will focus on Surrender and Renewal

The Easter Season teaches us that there is always time for renewal. We are invited to lay our ordinary at the feet of Jesus, at the altar of Sacrifice at Mass. Through God's own power-via the Mass-our ordinary gift of sacrifice transforms into Christ's own life-giving body. The Holy Spirit is who comes down to earth and transform ordinary bread into extraordinary Body of Christ. The Spirit can do the same for your marriage if we permit it.

If we cling to the sacrifices we make in our own marriage and family life and wear them as badges of honor (or as victimhood), we can never see the transformation they provide.

Catholic Date Night Ideas about Renewal

1. Write down ALL you do: Each of you to spend time making a list of all you do for your spouse, children, work, community, etc. Write it all down and don't show anyone. No one will read this but you.

2. Surrender it ALL to Him at Mass: Then you and your spouse take your list and, in your mind, present it when the gifts are offered during Sunday Mass or figuratively throw it in the chalice when it's raised during the consecration. Essentially, you are offering your ordinary sacrifices to Jesus and permitting him to transform them, to transform you.

   
   

   Leave it all there at His feet.

   
   

   Don't count the cost or keep score on who does more, just give it all to God and his altar of sacrifice.

   
   

   Let Him transform ordinary into extraordinary. Let Him make all things new, including your outlook, your energy, your renewed love for spouse and children.

   
   

3. Reflect on New Life and buy a plant together: Then you and your spouse shop for new life in some form together. This could be a fish, a new pet you've been wanting, a house plant, flowers for your Mary Garden, anything.

   
   

   When you see this new life-remember all life comes from God. Remember the power in surrendering sacrifices to him. Remember not to keep score. Release it and let God renew the face of the earth.

Open Date with Monthly Check In Questions

On the way home with your new life, try and discuss the following things as ice breakers, at home after kids fall asleep, during a walk, in the car after you’ve grabbed hot cocoa, or in front of the fireplace with a bottle of wine or a cup of tea!

• Have you felt loved by me over this last month? Why or why not?

• What can I do to love you better? (See another month's challenge about Love Languages!)

• Do you have any prayer intentions I could pray for over the next month?

• What has been your favorite memory or thing that happened over the last month?

• What was the worst thing?

• What is one thing you are looking forward to in the coming month?

Before the date ends, be sure to schedule your next date night together!

We pray you fall deeper in love with your spouse this month and enjoy this intentional time together!

Want more Support for Catholic Marriage?

Wondering How to pray with your spouse? Check out this eBook, How to Create a Prayer Routine as Husband and Wife to help you and your spouse either refresh your current prayer life or to jump start a customized prayer routine together!

How to Pray for Your Marriage using the Luminous Mysteries : this free eBook download is great for husband and wife to reflect on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary and how they relate to Marriage, guiding you to pray for your marriage as you pray them!

We challenge you to a date each month with our date night challenge! Looking for a date night in? Check out the Catholic Family Movie Night discussion prompts for the movie Groundhog Day!