It sounds too good to be true, but there’s a city in the world that has a zero divorce
rate. And near the end of this video, I’m going to show you the successful
formula that has kept marriages together for generations. More than a formula,
it’s a beautiful prayer and a profound Catholic culture that can help restore the family today.
In the U.S., the divorce rate is staggering. Close to 50% of marriages fall apart. On top of that,
there are illicit unions, couples that shack up, not to mention same-sex counterfeit unions
that masquerade as marriage. The family is under attack. And moral values have been torn to bits.
But — lo and behold! — despite the moral crisis,
there’s a city where the marriage bond is so strong that there’s no record of divorce.
The city is Siroki-Brijeg located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The city’s 26,000 inhabitants of Croatian origin are familiar with adversity. They
had to defend their Catholic Faith during the Muslim invasion in the 15th Century.
Their Faith was tested again when the country fell under the boot of atheistic communism.
Trusted sources report that, “Siroki-Brijeg is remarkable … for in the collective memory
of all there has never been a single divorce among the Croatian Catholics of the city."
How do you explain such a remarkable thing?
First, the population of the city is almost 100% Catholic, and they live their faith seriously.
They consider it a point of honor to defend the indissolubility of
marriage and the monogamous family. That means marriage is the sacred
union between a man and a woman—as stated in the country’s constitution.
However, what marks this profound religious attitude is that they see marriage as a cross,
united with the Cross of Christ. This helps the spouses live their union without romanticism,
false expectations, or whimsical illusions.
Realistically, we live in a valley of tears. Everyone has defects. And there’s
no mutual understanding without the mutual exercise of patience.
This Catholic understanding of marriage is what prevents divorce and separations.
This attitude of fidelity is expressed in a beautiful custom.
During their married life, the spouses find strength by praying together before
the crucifix, a special crucifix they receive on their wedding day.
In the wedding ceremony, the priest blesses the crucifix presented by the bride and groom.
He places the bride’s right hand on the crucifix, then that of the groom upon hers, and covers them
with a stole. The couple then makes their vows with their hands clasping the crucifix.
The priest tells them they have found the ideal “partner” with whom they must share their lives.
He says: “You have found your cross! It is a cross that you
must love and take with you every day of your lives. Know how to appreciate it.”
After kissing the cross, the spouses enthrone it in their home.
When trials, misunderstandings, disagreements and difficulties common to all marriages arise,
both spouses kneel before the crucifix and with unwavering faith ask for strength to endure them,
because Our Lord’s yoke “is easy, and His burden, light.” This attitude is consistent
with the belief that the cross will give them strength to overcome their daily trials.
The spouses are aware that if one abandons the other, they will abandon Christ.
And the source of perseverance comes from the Cross of Christ rather than external factors.
The children of these strong unions learn how to venerate
the family crucifix and direct their early prayers to the cross.
These Catholics learn how to practice, from an early age, that which the immortal Portuguese
author Luis de Camões already celebrates with the words: “Thou, who carefully looks for rest in this
tempestuous sea of the world, do not expect to find any rest except in Jesus Christ crucified.”