Discerning Marriage

One of the topics that I often get emails and IG messages about is online dating. This method of meeting people is increasingly utilized as a way to connect with people outside of your immediate community, and thousands of people have met their spouse online (including one of our closest couple friends!!). I wanted to have a podcast episode to be able to direct interested people to, so I’ve invited Content Manager of Catholic Match Kateri Bean to discuss some helpful tips and tricks of how to build the foundation for a successful relationship with someone that you’ve met online. On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Catholic Match Website where anyone can create a free CatholicMatch profile Podcast Episode about Breakups! Kateri Bean is a newly married cradle Catholic living in the beautiful state of New Hampshire. As the Content Manager of CatholicMatch, she has a special interest in supporting single Catholics as they navigate their journey to the Sacrament of Marriage. Instagram (the best place to learn more about them!): @catholicmatch A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

Sometimes people will have a supernatural prayer experience where God gives them the assurance of who their spouse is going to be: “I just knew it was her!” Often, though, God works through a person’s reason and free will and allows them to choose whom they want to marry. This episode’s discernment story is an example of the latter. Christina Jaloway spent her 20s longing for her spouse and didn’t get married until she was 33, but man oh man did the Lord do big beautiful things during her wait! On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Dear Single Reader: God is Not Going to Force You Into The Convent or Seminary Ep 14: Thriving While Single with Christina Jaloway Christina Dehan Jaloway is a wife, mother of two, and considers herself Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s biggest fan. Before getting married in 2016, she taught high school theology (her dream job) for nine years, and was a blogger and speaker at Catholic events. She lives with her husband Kristian and two boys in beautiful Austin, TX. https://www.theevangelista.com/ Instagram: @christinajalowa A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

For starters, this episode is for both men and women! 🙂 Back in the 1990s, St John Paul II wrote a Letter To Women, breaking open the beauty of femininity and completely busting the myth that women are less than men. On this episode, I’m joined by Liv Harrison to discuss a critical topic that St JPII discussed in that letter: the feminine genius. Both men and women need to understand the dignity and worth of the feminine heart in order to discern marriage well, and we hope this episode helps bring some clarity and springboards good discussions about femininity in this broken world. On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes St. John Paul II’s Letter to Women The Genius Collective on Instagram Liv Harrison is known for being a professional speaker and emcee with a gift for humor, storytelling, and wisdom. People are her passion. She connects with everyone from junior high students to seasoned adults. Liv was the 2018 Host/Emcee to hundreds of Catholic youth at the Austin music festival, Godstock. Her work in marriage ministry keeps her connected with couples around Texas. Not only has Liv spoken all over Texas, but she has also spoken across the nation. She is presently serving the Junior League of The Woodlands as an active leader who often speaks to the 500 members. In May 2019 Liv successfully wrote, launched, and emceed the Genius Catholic Women’s Conference outside of Austin, TX. In December, of 2019 the Talitha Koum Initiative, LLC was formed to produce the Genius Catholic Women’s Conference. In March 2020 the unique Genius Catholic Women’s Conference launched in Dallas. Liv serves as President on the Executive Board of The Genius Collective; a non-profit that is in its final stages of development. Liv is currently a co-host on the Forte Catholic Podcast and the Discerning Marriage Podcast. On June 1, 2020 Liv launched her own interview/storytelling podcast titled Talk to Me with Liv Harrison: The Stories Behind Their Success. Lastly, she has been a frequent voice on Sirius XM and various other podcast programs both as a guest and as a co-host. She is married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of two. https://www.thelivharrison.com Instagram: @thelivharrison Email: liv@thelivharrison.com A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

Join me for this season 1 finale episode where I answer listener questions about the timing of transitioning to engagement, breakups, what to do when there is pornography in your relationship, and questions to ask each other in the pre-engagement phase! On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Ep 4: Phases of Discernment Ep 19: Breakups Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about updates to the ministry and Next Step registration opening in 2021! A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year...but it can also be the most painful time of the year for some people. This is true for people who have recently ended a relationship, because one of the most underrated sufferings in our current culture is that of breakups. It can be so tempting to just tell someone whom you see going through a breakup to just “move on” / “there are other fish in the sea” / “she was bad for you anyway” / “what a dumpster fire that relationship was, amiright?!” without validating the real pain that the person going through the breakup might be feeling. Breakups often affect the trajectory of a person’s future discernment, so I am incredibly passionate about people being intentional about how they navigate the end of a relationship. Liv Harrison joins me to discuss this critical topic. Note: this is a great episode if you are going through a breakup, have been through a significant breakup in your past, or you know and love someone who is or may at some point go through a breakup. Pretty much, if you or someone in your life is in a commitment and may break up one day, this is a must listen! On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Ep 4: Stages of Dating with Liv Harrison TOB Institute Immersion Course Schedule Liv Harrison is known for being a professional speaker and emcee with a gift for humor, storytelling, and wisdom. People are her passion. She connects with everyone from junior high students to seasoned adults. Liv was the 2018 Host/Emcee to hundreds of Catholic youth at the Austin music festival, Godstock. Her work in marriage ministry keeps her connected with couples around Texas. Not only has Liv spoken all over Texas, but she has also spoken across the nation. She is presently serving the Junior League of The Woodlands as an active leader who often speaks to the 500 members. In May 2019 Liv successfully wrote, launched, and emceed the Genius Catholic Women’s Conference (geniuswomensconference.com) outside of Austin, TX. In December, of 2019 the Talitha Koum Initiative, LLC was formed to produce the Genius Catholic Women’s Conference. In March 2020 the unique Genius Catholic Women’s Conference launched in Dallas. Liv serves as President on the Executive Board of The Genius Collective; a non-profit that is in its final stages of development. Liv is currently a co-host on the Forte Catholic Podcast and the Discerning Marriage Podcast. On June 1, 2020 Liv launched her own interview/storytelling podcast titled Talk to Me with Liv Harrison: The Stories Behind Their Success. Lastly, she has been a frequent voice on Sirius XM and various other podcast programs both as a guest and as a co-host. She is married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of two. https://www.thelivharrison.com Instagram: @thelivharrison Email: liv@thelivharrison.com A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

As our hearts turn toward Bethlehem and we prepare for the coming of Christ, I want to continue our conversation on what marriage is and what to do to prepare your heart to enter into the sacrament. I’m joined once again by Jeanette Clark to break open St. Paul’s beautiful and sometimes confusing passage in Ephesians chapter 5 about the relationship between husbands and wives. Jeanette’s gentleness and wisdom make for a wonderful discussion on a critical scriptural text for those of us who are called to marriage. On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Ep 5: Humility with Jeanette Clark Ephesians 5: 21-33 - Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband. Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West Good News About Sex and Marriage by Christopher West Born to a military family, Jeanette Clark lived most of her life in the Washington, DC area. She received her Master's in Theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in 1997 and that same year moved to Denver, Colorado (which she actually considers her home town) where she was hired by the brand new Archbishop, Charles Chaput. She directed the Office of Christian Initiation for the Archdiocese for four years, giving frequent talks and retreats to the community. Jeanette married Jason Clark in 2001 at a little mountain Church in Evergreen, Colorado where their family adventure began. In June they celebrated 19 years as husband and wife. They have 5 children ages 8-17, 4 of whom are boys and they currently live in rural southern Pennsylvania surrounded by Amish neighbors. She is delving deeper and deeper into what it means to be a human being - a woman - who has encountered Christ and what that means on every level of existence. Deep ponderings at the kitchen sink. A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

Hands down the most helpful clinical resources I have found to help married couples come out of the Gottman Institute. Drs John and Julie Gottman have a research based theory on why marriages succeed or fail, and it is called the Sound Relationship House. Learning these seven “floors” and two foundational “pillars” is invaluable for people discerning marriage as they seek to build a solid foundation for a healthy and happy marriage. I am joined by Florida Marriage and Family Therapist Regina Boyd, who has completed level 2 training (out of 3!) in the Gottman Method, to share with us an introduction to the Gottman’s revolutionary theory. On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes The Sound Relationship House Regina’s Counseling Practice Regina is the Founder of Boyd Counseling Services, a Catholic licensed mental health practice that provides in-person and virtual therapy for couples, families, and teens. She works with clients who are experiencing life changes, desire healthy emotional connection, and seek to develop problem solving strategies within their relationships. Regina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is a wife and mother of a delightful toddler. In her spare time Regina enjoys walks with her family, baking, going live for her Facebook and Instagram followers, and listening to Mumford and Sons. Instagram: @boydcounselingservices A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

Fr. Blake Britton was born and raised in the Diocese of Orlando, Fla., the oldest of four children. After studying opera at an arts school and the Orlando Opera Company, he applied for the seminary at the age of 18 and earned both a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy as well as a master’s degree in Divinity. He is fluent in English and Spanish and well-studied in classical Latin and biblical Greek. He is a published author and frequent guest speaker for conferences, radio programs, podcasts, retreats and lectures. His writings are published in several national and international outlets including Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire ministries blog and Evangelization & Culture journal. He has also been featured in National Catholic Register _and EWTN. He is a co-host with Brandon Vogt for _The Burrowshire Podcast, a show focused on Catholic culture and millennial evangelization. In 2018, St. Mary Catholic Church & School in Rockledge, Fla., welcomed Fr. Blake as parochial vicar. On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes The Burrowshire Podcast Instagram: @frblakebritton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frbritton A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

Regina Boyd, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida, shares her discernment story, complete with tales from religious community come-and-see weekends to a surprise breakup and the healing that she sought after. We also discuss her take on navigating an interracial relationship with family and friends. This really is a fantastic discernment story, and I’m so excited for you to hear it!! On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Regina’s Counseling Practice Regina is the Founder of Boyd Counseling Services, a Catholic licensed mental health practice that provides in-person and virtual therapy for couples, families, and teens. She works with clients who are experiencing life changes, desire healthy emotional connection, and seek to develop problem solving strategies within their relationships. Regina is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She is a wife and mother of a delightful toddler. In her spare time Regina enjoys walks with her family, baking, going live for her Facebook and Instagram followers, and listening to Mumford and Sons. Instagram: @boydcounselingservices A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.

The ache of being single can often leave a person tempted to think that being single is a time of being in a “holding pattern” while you wait for marriage. NO! This is such a lie! I am passionate about helping single people to see the beauty of this season of their lives, and to that end, I’ve invited Christina Jaloway, also known as The Evangelista, to dialogue with me about how to thrive while you’re single! On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation. This podcast is hosted by the Theology of the Body Instiute. Learn more about the Institute here. Shownotes Mindfulness and Therapy Episode with Dr Greg Bottaro Christina Dehan Jaloway is a thirty-something Catholic Texan with a passion for the True, Good, and Beautiful. She got married in 2016 at the age of 33 to the love of her life, and they have two little boys. She taught high school for 9 years and wrote a blog called The Evangelista. In addition to loving bright colors, being outside in the sunshine, wearing skirts and dresses, kombucha, 85% dark chocolate from Trader Joe's, hiking, and Italy, she’s also a HUGE nerd. She loves, loves, loves to read and learn new things. She also loves to talk about the books she’s read and things she’s learned. And she considers herself Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's biggest fan! https://www.theevangelista.com/ Instagram: @christinajalowa A huge thank you to Catholic record label NOVUM Records and artist John Finch for our theme song "Send Down Your Spirit"! Learn more about Discerning Marriage Ministries here. Send a question to host Elizabeth Busby here.