NOT LIVING TOGETHER

This has nothing to do with anything in my own life, but I found it really powerful so decided to post it:

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QUESTION:

My question is this. There are some things in the Catholic religion that I believe to be old fashioned....like the not living with someone until married. I had a boyfriend when I was 18. We dated for 3 years. Had I not lived with him I would never have known that he was such and abusive, physically, mentally, and emotionally, person. He showed no signs of that until about 3 months after we moved in together. I would have ended up marrying him and been one the wiser until it was too late. i thank God all the time that I got out of that relationship.



ANSWER:

I'd also like to offer you some insight, possibly, into your boyfriend situation. If, from the beginning, you had stated your belief in no premarital sex, had focused on building a friendship, had focused on God, prayed together, insisted on a man who would be the spiritual head of the relationship, demanded respect and high standards of conduct... how long would he have been able to make it? Not 3 years, that's for sure. Men who are in-tune with Catholic teaching on these subjects... who are pro-life, pro-family, and pro-chastity are the kind of men that you will never have to "live with" before marriage to know their true character-- you can see is shining brightly as the lamp set on the hill. These men are godly men and their sights are set on what is good for YOU, your family, and your future together. And, you won't have to live with the ones who are not such men because they will self-select OUT of a relationship with you when you demand high standards of conduct.

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from:
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=14586