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The Catholic Church Saved My Marriage: Discovering Hidden Grace in the Sacrament of Matrimony
"The Catholic Church saved my marriage and, quite possibly, my life."
So begins David Anders in this remarkably forthright book. In it, David reports that by the early 2000s, his marriage was so painful that he and his wife had just one thing in contempt for each other.
Today, he and his wife are extremely happy together – not because of marriage therapy, but because they came to know and fully embraced the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage.
Many people who encounter the Church’s teachings are shocked by their rigor. Yet the Church offers much more than rules about sexual restraint; she offers a way to make marriage into something supernatural, even mystical.
Here Dr. Anders shares his personal discovery and offers a robust defense of the Church’s teaching on marriage — even the most controversial topics of divorce, remarriage, gay marriage, and contraception.
With the Church’s teachings and the writings of the saints as his guide, he also offers practical, time-tested ways to live in peace despite an unhappy marriage, the value of suffering, and ways to overcome reluctance to forgive grave offenses.
In a culture that breaks apart marriages and undermines human dignity, Dr. David Anders offers a hope-filled alternative for those who live moral and spiritual lives in union with Christ and His Church.
So begins David Anders in this remarkably forthright book. In it, David reports that by the early 2000s, his marriage was so painful that he and his wife had just one thing in contempt for each other.
Today, he and his wife are extremely happy together – not because of marriage therapy, but because they came to know and fully embraced the Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage.
Many people who encounter the Church’s teachings are shocked by their rigor. Yet the Church offers much more than rules about sexual restraint; she offers a way to make marriage into something supernatural, even mystical.
Here Dr. Anders shares his personal discovery and offers a robust defense of the Church’s teaching on marriage — even the most controversial topics of divorce, remarriage, gay marriage, and contraception.
With the Church’s teachings and the writings of the saints as his guide, he also offers practical, time-tested ways to live in peace despite an unhappy marriage, the value of suffering, and ways to overcome reluctance to forgive grave offenses.
In a culture that breaks apart marriages and undermines human dignity, Dr. David Anders offers a hope-filled alternative for those who live moral and spiritual lives in union with Christ and His Church.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2018
44 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 9, 2018
What a great read. Dr. Anders shares a very honest, painful account of his marriage. He and his wife are to be commended for sharing their story and sharing the truth of how the Catholic Church changed their lives and marriage. The book is part memoir and part apologetics. I highly recommend this one.
June 28, 2018
A story of amazing grace
In his first book, Dr Anders supplies the reader with an unflinching view of how the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ transformed his marriage. I recommend the book for anyone who is interested in a personal example of the incredible things that God can do in our lives when we faithfully and eagerly embrace his sacraments. Thank you Dr Anders for your candor and your insight. I pray that God abundantly blesses you and your family.
In his first book, Dr Anders supplies the reader with an unflinching view of how the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ transformed his marriage. I recommend the book for anyone who is interested in a personal example of the incredible things that God can do in our lives when we faithfully and eagerly embrace his sacraments. Thank you Dr Anders for your candor and your insight. I pray that God abundantly blesses you and your family.
July 1, 2018
Very reflective
I really, really loved this book. Both my husband and I are converts to the Catholic Church and we have 9 children. We haven't always been good to each other and there have been times we forgot why it was important to stay together. I know now, the years have been good to us, that God has a direct hand in our marriage and guides us on the path we are taking together. We are still very much in love with one another and our children are all the better for it. This book really brought home to me what marriage really is and why as married Catholics we are truly members of the Body of Christ and I've been reminded that the hardest days are truly the best days Well done, Dr. Anders, well done.
I really, really loved this book. Both my husband and I are converts to the Catholic Church and we have 9 children. We haven't always been good to each other and there have been times we forgot why it was important to stay together. I know now, the years have been good to us, that God has a direct hand in our marriage and guides us on the path we are taking together. We are still very much in love with one another and our children are all the better for it. This book really brought home to me what marriage really is and why as married Catholics we are truly members of the Body of Christ and I've been reminded that the hardest days are truly the best days Well done, Dr. Anders, well done.
September 12, 2018
Great book for married couples
HIghly recommend reading this if married or considering it if you are Catholic or not. I have been a huge fan of Dr. Anders for a long time and would urge anyone to read this and support one of the great theologians of our time.
HIghly recommend reading this if married or considering it if you are Catholic or not. I have been a huge fan of Dr. Anders for a long time and would urge anyone to read this and support one of the great theologians of our time.
July 25, 2020
Awesome
Great, accessible, sublime, and beautiful truths of the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage! A witness and testimony edifying all who embrace it.
Great, accessible, sublime, and beautiful truths of the teachings of the Catholic Church on marriage! A witness and testimony edifying all who embrace it.
January 28, 2021
This book is a wonderful conversion story to the Catholic faith from fundamentalist Protestantism. I love a good conversion story because I love the Catholic faith, but also because it is so encouraging to read about other people that have been through similar experiences and thought processes that brought me to Catholicism. David Ander’s went to Wheaton, studied the reformers, and then became Catholic as a result of that study. It was so reaffirming to read through his arguments and crises in his faith and then to see how the Sacraments saved his marriage as a result! This is a great read for Catholics who want to hear about the experiences of other converts and reaffirm their faith, but also I recommend this to Protestants who are having similar questions as him!
January 25, 2022
I found the title to be somewhat misleading. The book details the author's conversion from Calvinism to Catholicism, and at least half of it deals with his wrestling with various theological points that have nothing directly to do with marriage. While the introduction and the conclusion framed the book as being about marriage, it really only dealt with marriage insofar as it is the conversion story of a married man. If you are specifically looking for a book about Catholic marriage, this is probably not the book you're looking for.
November 14, 2023
MORE THAN MARRIAGE
I am not married and have no plans to marry. However, I found this book to be a fascinating read. Dr. Anders writes about much more than marriage. He covers basic Catholic teachings on a variety of subjects, making this book as much about his conversion as it is about his marriage. This is a wonderful book on Catholic apologetics...as well as marriage.
I am not married and have no plans to marry. However, I found this book to be a fascinating read. Dr. Anders writes about much more than marriage. He covers basic Catholic teachings on a variety of subjects, making this book as much about his conversion as it is about his marriage. This is a wonderful book on Catholic apologetics...as well as marriage.
June 30, 2021
Wow.....this is a book for any Catholic married couple. It will open your mind and heart to new things to use in your current marriage. Thank you Dr. and Mrs. Anders for opening up your private life to us.
March 12, 2023
An important read
Though it was not what I thought it was going to be it was what I needed. A reminder that to be married is to put away yourself A reminder that even when things are hard you hang on.
Though it was not what I thought it was going to be it was what I needed. A reminder that to be married is to put away yourself A reminder that even when things are hard you hang on.
March 19, 2025
Mar 2025. Giving Dr Anders's book a shot. I've listened to many episodes of his radio show "Called to Communion."
Finished, grateful for the background and vulnerability, and the hopeful conclusion. Somewhat miscellaneous as a conversion narrative. I can relate to much of his youth and early adulthood.
Finished, grateful for the background and vulnerability, and the hopeful conclusion. Somewhat miscellaneous as a conversion narrative. I can relate to much of his youth and early adulthood.
September 5, 2018
The Catholic Church Saved My Marriage
This very well written book brought up many points about the sacrament of marriage that I never took in consideration but will now.
This very well written book brought up many points about the sacrament of marriage that I never took in consideration but will now.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews