Love between a man and a woman is a wonderful God given gift, but once the honeymoon period is over, it can be very demanding. Sadly, in today's society, very few couples stay together for their whole lives.

For Catholics, they believe that the channel (sacrament) of marriage not only makes public a couple's love for one another, but also gives them the supernatural strength to persevere and grow in their love for one another, once the going gets tough. It helps sustain their love and deepens it in a way beyond words.

The Sacrament of Marriage requires a couple to come to Church and the bond of their love to be sealed by the pronouncement of vows and by receiving God's blessing. Receiving God's blessing means that their coming together as a couple is made holy and that God’s love is at the heart of their relationship.

What do you find helps you be faithful to the commitments you've made?

Your guide for this section is Lloyd. He is 56, and lives in London. Click here to read his story.

The Sacrament of Marriage was created by God at the beginning of time. We read in the Bible (in the Book of Genesis) that God said that the first man and woman should come together and become one flesh. Couples were given a mandate to marry, set-up home together and make love, with God's blessing.

This love contract made between a couple in marriage cannot be broken once it is made. Catholics cannot re-marry for example. They can only get married in Church the once.

The effect of the marriage sacrament gives couples the supernatural power to be faithful to the living out of this commitment - warts and all.

Sadly, relationships do break down for a variety of reasons. Although the Catholic Church teaches the ideal of marriage should be safe-guarded, it supports those whose marriages have fallen apart. Those people affected still have a very important and full place in the Catholic community.

This is a website of the Catholic Enquiry Office; part of an Agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

Are you looking for a soulmate? In search of true love? Meet Saint Raphael who has been a spiritual friend to generations of singles.

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