The life of a married couple is like a Rosary

Father Franck Stéphane Yapi is a priest of the diocese of Agboville in southern Ivory Coast (Africa). He is the founder of the "Academy of Love," a virtual prayer community for engaged couples, married couples, divorced and widowed individuals. His ministry is geared towards couples, and this is what he says about the importance of prayer for couples:

"I think marriage is a trinity, the third person being God. Spouses must therefore allow Him to be an integral part of their marriage so that it can flourish. Prayer is the spiritual lung of the Christian couple because it places God at the heart of married life.

There are many ways to pray together. Personally, I recommend the Rosary. Not only do Catholics tend to immensely solicit the advocacy of the Blessed Virgin and the Rosary is their favorite prayer beside the Mass, but also in the celebration of the sacrament of marriage, there is a part at the end of the mass where the couple recommend themselves to the prayer of the Virgin Mary to whom they offer a bouquet of flowers.

I also believe that praying the Rosary together can make praying as a couple a little easier. As I meditated the Rosary with Mary our mother on behalf of couples, it occurred to me to ask the intercession of the holy couple of Mary and Joseph, to touch the heart of Jesus. I think the life of a married couple is like a Rosary."

Interview by Guy Aimé Eblotié