Res Gestae
Love-letter way of communication and Easter message for couples
"Love one another as I have loved you" John 15:12
My wife and I are members of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME). We joined the community in 2005. From then on, we received from couple-coordinators daily question which can be used for our “love-letter” communication.
The love-letter communication is a practice common to WWME couples. It is our way of relating to our partners our reflections, sentiments, aspirations, dreams, doubts, fears… It encourages us to write in our diaries our thoughts that we want to say, instead of saying them verbally and directly. It is our belief that by writing them down, we have the chance to re-view and re-write them until they become more constructive and developmental.
This style of communication helps us from hurting our partners through verbal “assault”. It is a realization that confronting our partners verbally and directly, we can’t avoid at times from deviating the real goal of communication, that is, the meeting of the minds.
By meeting of the minds, I mean that a couple can disagree agreeably on one thing in the same way that they can agree agreeably on other things.
Truly, It is a sad fact that many relationships failed because of failure in communication. And, this is what the love-letter communication is trying to prevent among married couples.
Try it and see the difference.
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Recently, we received an Easter message from WWME International Coordinating Team, Tony-Cathy & Fr. Emile through our Asian Coordinating Team Rey-Mel & Fr. Opet.
I am sharing this message here for it also goes to all married couples:
Dear Lovers and Companions on the Journey,
We greet you all with grateful hearts as we think about what each of you sacrifices for the mission of Worldwide Marriage Encounter – to bring renewal in the Church and change in the world. You are the modern day apostles so much needed in our world today and we love you all dearly.
This Jubilee Year to the Apostle Paul gives special focus to our observance of Holy Week. At the start of the Pauline Year, Pope Benedict wrote: “Saint Paul opens his heart to readers of all times and reveals what was the most intimate drive of his life. ‘I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.’ (Galatians 2.20) All Paul’s actions begin from this center. His faith is the experience of being loved by Jesus Christ in a very personal way. It is awareness of the fact that Jesus died for each of us by name and that as the Risen one, still loves us. Let this awareness utterly transform our lives this Holy Week so that we may continue our journey in faith, believing that ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’
This Holy Week, more than any other week in the year, shows us what it means to ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ As we make this journey with Jesus to the Cross, and beyond to the glory of the Resurrection, let us be aware of who we are – missionaries called to BE Jesus alive in the world today.
At the recent World Council meeting in Vancouver, we heard so much good news of all that is being done throughout the world. What struck us so forcefully is the love with which it is done. No matter the situation – the bridges being washed out in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, as people try to get to the Weekend – the joyful celebrations of our brothers and sisters in Africa – the searching for new ways of being on mission in Latin America – the changing world in Asia – the sharing of resources and the reach out in Europe to new countries--the forming of the North American Secretariat in our own back yard. In all of these ventures, yes, there is much sacrifice, but also much faith. As Fr. Chuck Gallagher says, “quoting” God in one of his presentations: “tell me you will, tell me you won’t, but don’t dare tell me you can’t!” Remember the words of St. Paul above: ‘I can do ALL things through Him who strengthens me.’
We have found this to be true in all our journeys so far. In our meetings with the Interfaith Board here in the US, we come away enriched and strengthened in faith knowing that the God and Lord of all is the one who leads and who calls us to faithfulness. We experience this in our meetings with the Sections and local areas, such energy and enthusiasm for mission everywhere. There is much yet to be done, so many couples, priests, religious yet to make a Weekend. The harvest is great. You who ‘harvest’ have to believe that this is the way the world will come to know the glory and mercy and compassion of our God.
We will be holding you all in prayer during this Easter season. We pray for your families and especially the children that as they see their parents grow daily in love, they too will be aware of the God who is love in their own lives.
With our love and thanks,
Tony & Cathy & Fr. Emile