<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent preparation manual for Orthodox couples
Review: I am currently using this workbook with my beau of three years. We are going to be bethroed in May and married in September. It is inspiring and gives us hope in this Post-Christian age. I highly recommend for young Orthodox people who are preparing for marriage.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding marriage preparation for any Christian couple!
Review: This book is written with reference to the Orthodox wedding service, but is a wonderful resource for anybody in or preparing for a Christian marriage. In addition to very interesting and helpful discussions about the meaning of Christian marriage, money management, and other issues, the book contains questionnaires for the partners to answer, to get them to think about and discuss how they feel about a variety of issues, from raising children and birth control, to spending habits, to expectations of what married life should be like. My husband and I used this book together when we were engaged- it really showed us several areas we had not really thought about (that have since become important in our marriage), and also made us happy to see how well we agreed on so many issues. A wonderful resource for marriage!
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful sacrament and book!
Review: This was an awesome book. I am Roman Catholic but have a deep love and admiration for the Eastern Church. Fr. Mack in "Preserve Them O 'Lord" speaks much about the eternal aspect of marriage, and how this eternal sacrament of grace can change the lives of those who participate in it. In the appendices at the back of the book, lessons on tithing, building a family altar, and a history of marriage in Eastern theology by Fr. John Meyendorff (memory eternal! +) are included.Even though this book was designed as a course book for Orthodox couples preparing for marriage or married couples, it is a wonderful addition to the library of anyone who is interested in how marriage is understood in the Orthodox Church today, married or single. One of the appendices speaks about the "Crowning" ceremony (which I think is absolutely beautiful), in the Orthodox Church. This book also gives advice on family finances, sexuality, marital communication, working out troubles, and other things that are associated with marriage. The only disagreement I have with this book is that Fr. Mack didn't state that contraception is outright wrong, and not Orthodox. Although he did give hints that he didn't support it. I believe that Holy Orthodoxy ought to take a stronger stand against the use of artificial contraceptives. Beyond that point, great book! Adam
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful sacrament and book!
Review: This was an awesome book. I am Roman Catholic but have a deep love and admiration for the Eastern Church. Fr. Mack in "Preserve Them O 'Lord" speaks much about the eternal aspect of marriage, and how this eternal sacrament of grace can change the lives of those who participate in it. In the appendices at the back of the book, lessons on tithing, building a family altar, and a history of marriage in Eastern theology by Fr. John Meyendorff (memory eternal! +) are included. Even though this book was designed as a course book for Orthodox couples preparing for marriage or married couples, it is a wonderful addition to the library of anyone who is interested in how marriage is understood in the Orthodox Church today, married or single. One of the appendices speaks about the "Crowning" ceremony (which I think is absolutely beautiful), in the Orthodox Church. This book also gives advice on family finances, sexuality, marital communication, working out troubles, and other things that are associated with marriage. The only disagreement I have with this book is that Fr. Mack didn't state that contraception is outright wrong, and not Orthodox. Although he did give hints that he didn't support it. I believe that Holy Orthodoxy ought to take a stronger stand against the use of artificial contraceptives. Beyond that point, great book! Adam
<< 1 >>
| 
