Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

Beth Sri, a Catholic speaker, author, and mother of eight children, serves as the Denver, Colorado chapter coordinator for Life-Giving Wounds, a ministry for adult children of divorce. She co-authored the award-winning book "The Good, The Messy and The Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life" with her husband. Earlier this year, Catholic Times Editor Andrew Hansen interviewed Sri on the diocesan podcast Dive Deep to discuss how to have a beautiful marriage and stay in love.

When asked about the high rates of divorce and declining marriage rates, Sri attributed these trends to widespread brokenness. "People come from broken homes all over the place and so they’ve never seen what a good marriage looks like," she said. She also pointed to media and cultural influences that create diversions from authentic connections between spouses.

Discussing her book's approach to handling marital challenges, Sri emphasized the importance of moving beyond initial romantic feelings. "When you get married, you have what I call 'gooey love.' Then as the years go on... it’s easy to lose that spark," she explained. She noted that facing crucial impasses in marriage is where couples can find strength through faith.

For maintaining a loving relationship, Sri recommended simple gestures such as smiling at one's spouse and showing delight in their presence. "Little things like that can really revolutionize a marriage that’s hurting," she said. Additionally, she advised couples to outdo each other in showing love and service.

Sri shared a personal experience involving one of her children with strong emotional reactions. This situation required both her and her husband to balance their differing approaches while respecting each other's perspectives. "We’re not going to get this perfect... regroup, and come up with a plan," she said.

To manage family stress without impacting their marriage negatively, Sri highlighted the importance of reconnecting through activities like walking together or having date nights that are not business meetings. She expressed joy in her large family despite potential concerns about its challenges.

In offering advice for couples looking to improve their relationships further, Sri emphasized prayer as essential for sustaining love through difficult times. "You need Jesus’ love in you to go the distance," she stated.

For more insights from Beth Sri on making marriages beautiful even without children or overcoming adoption challenges, listeners can access her full interview on Dive Deep via YouTube or major podcast platforms.

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