Then Isaac took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her(Genesis 24:67). 

Truly conjugial love with its delights comes only from the Lord and is given to those who live according to His commandments (Conjugial Love 534).

True love between a husband and wife in marriage (also called truly conjugial love), is a special gift from the Lord. Even if we don’t experience this love on earth, we can have it in heaven where it will last to eternity. Marriage is a three-way covenant involving the husband, the wife, and the Lord. Looking to the Lord and following Him are essential if we are to have this genuine spiritual love in our marriages. And whether or not we are married in this life, we can cherish the ideal of true marriage love and cooperate with the Lord in preparing ourselves to receive it.

A wedding ceremony is the beginning of a marriage. In it, a man and a woman promise to love each other and to look to the Lord together. The wedding ceremony confirms and blesses this covenant with the Lord. For this reason, many parts of the wedding have important symbolic meanings. This month we look at the story of the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (from Genesis 24), the description of a wedding in heaven (from the Heavenly Doctrine for the New Church), and our contemporary wedding ceremonies. These all show the importance of mutual consent to the marriage covenant. They also illustrate that weddings are times of rejoicing, as a husband and wife begin their new life together.

We invite you to explore the spiritual enrichment materials, family activities, projects, readings, and more on this month’s website which we hope will enhance your vision of the unique joy and blessing of true marriage love.

 Highlights for this month include

Special Quote: A Wedding in Heaven

"Protecting Marriage" by the Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith

"Gifts for a Bride" by the Rev. Kurt Horigan Asplundh 

An Overview of Projects and Activities for Families
Projects and activities about Marriage Is from the Lord, Weddings, A Wedding in Heaven, The Role of Friendship, Looking to the Lord, and With Love in Our Hearts.

 Spiritual Task: Feel the Joy of Another as Joy in Yourself (PDF)

 Looking to the Lord—Triangle Project (ages 7-up) (PDF)

 Project: Kindly or Selfish Hearts (ages 9-12) (PDF)

 Coloring Page: Isaac Greeting Rebekah by Marguerite L. Acton (PDF)