The Cana Movement 'Marriage Preparation Course' : a theological and pastoral evaluation

Abstract

The objective of Christian marriage preparation is to provide a holistic formation and education to young couples, enabling them to live their marriage as a beautiful and fruitful experience of human love that is fundamental for their own good and for the good of their family and society at large. It should be a journey grounded in faith and spirituality and based upon solid relationship training which is founded upon Christian anthropological, philosophical, theological, psychological and relational perspectives. What kind of marriage preparation is currently being offered to young couples in Malta? Is the current preparation programme equipping them adequately and empowering them to enjoy and partake of the richness, fullness and beauty of Christian marriage as the unique experience that God intended it to be? The first chapter of the dissertation contains a literature review on the theology of marriage. In the light of this theology, an evaluation of the Marriage Preparation Course offered locally by the Cana Movement follows in the second chapter. This evaluation includes a qualitative study involving couples attending this Course. Based on the results of this qualitative study and inspired by a theology of marriage, the third and final chapter proposes a new format for marriage preparation in Malta.