What do two celibates have to say about intimacy in marriage? Quite a bit! Fr. Josh Johnson is joined by Sr. Josephine Garrett to discuss the importance of intimacy in marriage. Together, they share the abundant knowledge they have gained by counseling couples and individuals over many years.
Snippet from the Show
Your spouse is a mystery that is continuously being revealed to you. Therefore, it is essential that you look at your spouse again and again so that you may continue to know them and love them more deeply.
Shownotes
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Glory Story (5:20)
Listener Question (9:53)
Can you help me understand the importance of intimacy in marriage? How do you do it well? What are some of the struggles couples face?
Saint Story: Sts. Zelie and Louis Martin (33:56)
Saints Zelie and Louis Martin were the first married couple to ever be canonized together. Before marriage, Zelie and Louis both desired to enter the religious life but were faced with disappointment when they were turned away. They were encouraged to pursue the vocation of marriage and married one another in 1858. They had nine children, but unfortunately lost four of their babies as infants.
Together, Louis and Zelie ran a lace-making business while also raising their five daughters. In 1877 Zelie passed away due to breast cancer. After her death, Louis moved his family to Lisieux in order to be closer to extended family.
All five of the Martins’ daughters entered religious life. Their youngest daughter, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, was canonized in 1925. Louis passed away in 1894. The couple was canonized in October 2015.
Meet Sister Josephine Garrett
Sister Josephine is a native Texan, born and raised in Houston. She moved to Dallas in 1999 to begin studies at the University of Dallas, where she completed a BA in Political Philosophy with a Business Concentration. Sr. Josephine subsequently entered the banking industry, serving for 10 years as a Vice President in the Home Loans division of Bank of America. Raised Baptist, Sr. Josephine entered the Catholic Church in 2005, and in November of 2011 she began her formation to be a religious Sister. In November of 2020 Sister Josephine professed her final vows as a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Sr. Josephine is a licensed counselor, serving as the school counselor for the cathedral grade school in Tyler, TX, and also working in private practice. She has also served in vocations ministry and as a national speaker for youth and young adults, speaking to groups of up to 25,000. Sr. Josephine is the host of Hope Stories with Black Catholics, an OSV podcast.
Resources
- Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh
- Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson & Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Fr. Josh Johnson
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. He is a presenter in four of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, The 99, and Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation, Pocket Guide to Adoration, and co-author of Pocket Guide to Reconciliation.
