he One in Christ Couple’s Workbook is designed to prepare engaged couples for the Sacrament of Marriage. One in Christ is a comprehensive marriage preparation program ideal for both engaged couples taking Pre-Cana classes and married couples who would like a refresher course on marriage. One in Christ presents both the sacramental theology and the practical “tools” of Christian Marriage so that couples reach an understanding of how marriage is a participation in the life of heaven and what that means for their lives together here on earth. The course takes the Hans Urs von Balthasar1 approach of presenting the truth, beauty and goodness of marriage and family life. This approach is very appealing to today’s couples, assaulted as they are by much secular negativity about marriage. Our goal is not just to present information on marriage, but rather to help couples see the what, why and how of the Church’s teaching in relation to marriage. That is why we begin with the basic catechesis on the Catholic Faith and interweave it throughout each presentation. Deeply rooted in Scripture, Catholic Tradition, the Lives of the Saints and Papal Encyclicals, this book will prepare couples to see the truth, beauty and goodness of marriage and family life. One in Christ will show how God and His grace are the remedies and the quintessential means to a happy, healthy, holy and lasting marriage. 1 Hans Urs von Balthasar (12 August 1905 – 26 June 1988) was a Swiss theologian and priest-cardinal of the Catholic Church. He is considered one of the most important theologians of the 20th century. Balthasar is well known for his 16 volume systematics (Trilogy) which is divided into three parts: The Glory of the Lord, the first 7-volume work on 'theological aesthetics' (a theology based upon contemplation of the good, the beautiful, and the true). One of the often quoted passages from the entire Trilogy comes from the First Volume (Seeing the Form) of The Glory of the Lord: “Before the beautiful—no, not really before but within the beautiful—the whole person quivers. He not only 'finds' the beautiful moving; rather, he experiences himself as being moved and possessed by it.” Quoted in Edward T. Oakes, SJ, and David Moss, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Hans Urs von Balthasar (Cambridge University Press, 2004), 270

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H O W T O O R D E R The One in Christ Couple’s Workbook can be ordered

through Biretta Books, Ltd. and can be purchased online at www. cantius.org/webstore or call our

distributor at 1-800-345-6665.

The Couple’s Workbook includes:

Following Christ in the Vocation of Marriage

Covenantal Theology and the Properties of Marriage

Espoused Forever: The Sacraments of Marriage, Communion and Confession

Covenantal Communication and the Moral Virtues

Marriage and Money: Almsgiving and Tithing

Covenantal Life: The Unitive End of Marriage

Covenantal Love: The Procreative End of Marriage

Contraception in Question

Planning your Family God’s Way: Natural Family Planning

Facing Infertility: a Journey of Faith, Hope and Love (This talk also includes the Church’s teaching on reproductive technologies).

Each chapter contains a full text of the speaker notes, presentation goals, discussion questions, articles on marriage and prayers. There are also videos of witnessing couples that go with each chapter. In addition to the witnessing couples, there are three videos that give an excellent and informative introduction to Natural Family Planning: The Ovulation Method. The videos have been generously provided by The Gift Foundation2 and can be accessed and downloaded for free by going to www.giftfoundation.org. The videos for the chapters include: Growth in Christ, Forever One, Forgiveness, Prayer, Almsgiving and Tithing, Natural Family Planning, three videos on the Ovulation Method, In Sickness and in Health, Fasting, Large Families, Head and Heart, and Words of Advice.

The video for Presentation Ten: Facing Infertility: a Journey of Faith, Hope and Love by Mary Louise Kurey from the Chicago Archdiocesan Respect Life Office can be obtained by emailing your request to Fr. Thomas Aschenbrener at fraschenbrener@aol.com.

We hope and pray that you find One in Christ instructive, insightful and beneficial to your marriage. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Fr. Thomas Aschenbrener at fraschenbrener@aol.com. Fr. Thomas Aschenbrener Canons Regular of St. John Cantius Chicago, IL

2 The Gift Foundation is a non-profit organization located in Illinois. Their mission is to make available the Good News of Jesus Christ through extremely affordable media and other means. They focus primarily on marriage issues, believing that the fundamental community upon which all healthy communities are built is the community of marriage. Steven Habisohn, Founder of the Gift Foundation. (www.giftfoundation.org) All Rights Reserved 2009.