As the Catholic Church celebrates National Marriage Week, there is ample research on the health, economic prosperity, and quality of life of happily wedded couples. According to the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, the Catholic faith teaches that “marriage is more than a civil contract; it is a lifelong covenant of love between a man and a woman.
It is an intimate partnership in which husbands and wives learn to give and receive love unselfishly, and then teach their children to do so as well. Christian marriage in particular is a ‘great mystery,’ a sign of the love between Christ and his Church.”
The 2025 National Marriage Week theme is “Pursuing a Lasting Love,” with the celebration centered around Valentine’s Day. The public campaign is focused on promoting awareness of the positive impact that marriages have on society. Many mainstream think tanks and social scientists agree that marriage has many benefits for couples and society in general.
Despite this consensus, the total number of U.S. marriages has strikingly fallen in the past 55 years. In 1970, nearly 80% of all adults were married. Today, that number has dropped to only 52% of adults being wedded. As many individual studies have proven, marriage is particularly beneficial for working- and middle-class families.
Pope Francis has stated that marriage “is of enduring importance. Its essence derives from our human nature and social character. It involves a series of obligations born of love itself, a love so serious and generous that it is ready to face any risk.”
A study from the Heritage Foundation found that when people complete at least a high school education and then wait until age 21 to get married and have a child, there is only a 2% chance of poverty. Conversely, according to the study, young people who do not follow the path above have a 77% chance of being in poverty.
In the Diocese of Brooklyn, 1,525 weddings were celebrated in parishes in 2024, topping the 1,254 in 2023. Since planning a wedding can take 18-24 months, these numbers suggest Catholic weddings in the diocese are rising to pre-pandemic levels. A better quality of life for married couples has been demonstrated in numerous studies published on the National Institutes of Health’s website.
Couples live longer and happier lives on the whole. Single men, on the other hand, have early mortality rates that are up to 250% higher than married men. Single women can have early mortality rates that are 50% higher than married women.
Married women can be 30% more likely to rate their health as excellent or very good than single women and 40% less likely to rate their health as fair or poor. Marriage is a powerful testament to the enduring nature of love and commitment. It enriches the lives of individuals and strengthens families and communities, fostering a culture of support, stability, and joy.
As we reflect on the true value of a sacred union this National Marriage Week, let us celebrate the beauty of marital bonds and acknowledge the vital role they play in enhancing our well-being and creating a more compassionate society.
May we also focus as a Church on just how beautiful the sacrament of holy matrimony really is and how we, as the people of God, can help cultivate a culture of love and understanding in the diocese.