National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day

Each year, the Church celebrates National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day, observances designed to provide an opportunity for the Catholic Church to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. This year, National Marriage Week USA will be celebrated 7-14 February and World Marriage Day, which is commemorated on the second Sunday of February, will be celebrated on Sunday, 12 February. This year's theme, "Marriage...one flesh, given and received" is designed to highlight the one-flesh union of husband and wife that is willed by God. It also indicates the personal self-gift of each spouse, one to the other. These concepts point to Christ who gives Himself under the appearance of bread and wine - as real flesh and blood.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers resources to the faithful for the promotion and defense of marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman through its dedicated websites ForYourMarriage.org, PorTuMatrimonio.org, and MarriageUniqueForAReason.org.

National Marriage Week USA, launched in 2010, is part of an international event seeking to mobilize individuals, organizations, and businesses in a common purpose to strengthen marriage in communities and influence the culture. For information and resources, visit: NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org. World Marriage Day was started in 1983 by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.