I Want to be Married

I have a confession to make, a desire that God has placed on my heart for a long time now and which I wish to make known to you: I want to be married.

It’s true: I want a wife and kids and everything that goes with being married. Of course, I cannot be married to just anyone: I long for a beautiful bride—a bride that prays and helps others and desires to be holy. I want a wife that strives alongside me and challenges me and, ultimately, leads me to a greater relationship with her and with Christ. I want to be united to this woman in the most pure and beautiful of ways—a way that is completely sacrificial and completely loving, not emptying or devaluing. I want a love who allows me to serve her, yet who trusts me to lead. I long for a love that desires to be a good mother, who will stay up late hours with me when the kids are sick, or when they’re crabby, or when they’re just confusing their nights and days. I want a love that shows its fruits in many kids.

Yes, it is true: I want many kids—as many as God will give me, and help me provide for. I want to be there when they are born, when they are baptized, when they are taking their first steps (especially those first steps of faith). I want to be there at their first confession and their first Eucharist, when they taste that true sweetness and receive God in all his loving entirety. I want to introduce them to my Love, my Father, and His Son. I long to teach my children all about my Father and His Son’s Life and Their Love, and how They extend that love to all of us. I want to show my children how to talk with Them, how to walk with Them… And how to listen.

I want to help my kids out with school and attend their soccer games. I desire to answer their tough questions, listen to them as they struggle with the world around them, and support them as they strive to give completely of themselves to God and to one another. I want to be there as they grow.

I want to provide them with a good home—a home that is loving, and sacrificial, and prayerful. I hope we eat dinner together.

I want to stay up late in prayer as they are out late with friends. And I know I'll welcome them back home with a giant hug and a kiss. I want to teach them the extraordinary value of forgiving others.

Of course, I will encourage them as they figure out what God wants them to do in their lives, just as my Father encouraged me when I tried to figure it all out. I want to be there when they finally do, celebrating and rejoicing with them, as they are married. Or as they take final vows. Or as the bishop ordains them to the priesthood. Or as they remain single and serve the Church is so many amazing ways. I want my children to know that they are loved.

I always want them to know that, just like I want my wife to always know that. Whether they are struggling with finances, their job, addictions, or their own families—whether they are sick, dying, or just growing old—I will always serve my family and love my family and die trying to bring them home to the Greatest Family of all.

After all, that’s what Fathers do.

So, yes, God has given me a desire to be married. But—I confess— this marriage— in fact, everything I've said above— is in reference to the priesthood; my love is for His Bride, the Church.  And one day, I hope to have children… His children, the Children of God; again, His Church.

I want to be a priest: I want to be a good husband to the Bride of Christ and a good Father to His children.  And, thank God for that!— for this is the stuff that makes good priests.

God love you!