My husband and I were required to take that test before we got married. I thought it was a wonderful idea, and wish that more couples were required to do it -- it'd probably bring down the divorce rate considerably.
Our priest met with us after the results came back and went over any questions where our answers weren't compatible. The questions were grouped into various categories: Finances, Extended Family, Children, Work, etc. It was really interesting to see the results.
Overall, we agreed on most things. However, the test showed that extended family could be an issue for us. It was absolutely right, too, because we were dealing with a difficult situation regarding my husband's father at the time. The priest gave us an opportunity to talk things out, and offered advice on ways to deal with our families without it putting stress on our marriage. It was extremely helpful.
Another part of our pre-cana work was meeting with a sponsor couple -- a married couple in our parish who have gone through training sessions on how to counsel engaged couples. We met with them several times over the course of our engagement, and learned how they handled various issues that came up in their marriage over the years. They were great, and offered some wonderful insight on married life.
I personally don't think that taking a test and attending some counseling sessions are bad things for engaged couples to do. For some, it opens their eyes to the fact that they may not be compatible with each other, and that love isn't the only thing that is needed for a marriage to be successful. For others, it strengthens their relationship and reinforces their belief that marriage is the right thing for them. I would highly recommend the test and the counseling to anyone who is engaged.
Hybrid Mode
