Customer Reviews

Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World: A Guide for Catholics

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I'm really surprised that no one has reviewed this book. I have met Fr. Morrow and if any of you live close to Washington, DC, please visit his parish. When I read this, I could not put it down. I even ordered extra copies of this book, and gave them as gifts to a few of my buddies. Alhough this review is written from a man's perspective, the content pertains to both sexes.

The content of this book is on a mature level, with an audience reaching the 25+ age bracket. I recommend it for people who have been out of college for a few years and have discerned a vocation to the marriage covenant. This book is definitely not for John Q. Public who is looking to take someone home from a bar on Friday night.

A large part of what Fr. Morrow touches on is that our culture really needs to change. Sadly, pre-marital sex has become much of the norm, and too many people decide to become a "couple" after the 2nd or 3rd date. This had led to not only quite a bit of heartbreak, but also a serious lack of trust in others. Our society has become a "friends with benefits" world, which has led to a breakdown in the "sanctity of marriage" and the marriage covenant.

A lot of the "heartbreak" associated with secular dating today has been destroyed due to pre-marital sex. Lovemaking should only take place within the sanctity of marriage, and the marital embrace shall always be open to life.

The best courtship is a chaste and honorable courtship. Sadly, many men (I can pick on men, I am one) have forgotten how to do this. What I liked best about this book is Fr. Morrow suggests doing some "friendship dating" for at least one to three months before making a "commitment" to someone. It is fun to take a young lady to an art museum, send her flowers, write her letters, or go for long walks in the park. Attending Mass together and praying together are wonderful things to do too. Fr. Morrow also throws in some ideas for some good "cheap dates" that are not only fun, but also creative.

Fr. Morrow touches quite a bit on formation (before finding Miss Right, you need to be Mr. Right), questions to ask, and conversations to have during the courtship process. There is also an excellent chapter written on modesty and communication.

Fr. Morrow gives some insights on places to go to meet a prospective spouse, such as Catholic seminars and pro-life events. However, he stresses that people go because you are interested in participating in a cause or hearing a lecture, not just finding someone to go to a movie with Saturday night.

As a never married Catholic man in my mid 30's, (I was in my late 20's when I "returned" to the faith, and began to learn more about it), I find that there are quite a few single Catholic women who are looking for a Catholic man to step up to the plate. Many devout Catholic men have not taken enough initative in this area, and I think that is one reason why quite a few Catholic women are marrying men outside of their faith. Another reason I think alot of Catholic women have been marrying outside their faith is they find that there are several "Catholic" men out there who are not truly Catholic, and do not meet their expectations.

Catholic men, I urge you to learn your faith well and practice it. If you are called to marriage, please take some initiative in finding good Catholic spoouses. They are out there. Don't give up. I have met several nice and authentic Catholic women over the past few years who are not only highly intelligent, fun, well-educated, smart, committed to their faith, but also very beautiful inside and outside.

I appreciate the work Fr. Morrow did in putting this work together, and he holds firmly to his beliefs and those of the Holy Catholic Church. The orthodoxy is here, and the Catholic Faith is Alive!!

Therefore Catholic men, let's throw some dinner parties (a lost art) and invite some nice Catholic women over to make some new friends.

This is the map for the Christian counterrevolution on matters sexual. It is a book that any parent, any single, any grandparent, and any educator should have. And certainly pastors should read it and preach it. The book is specific and answers specifically the age-old question of how much physical contact is prudent in a Christian courtship (of course, no sex, but even restraint in kissing). Fr. Morrow advocates a two-stage process: first non-exclusive friendship dating with no kissing or even hand-holding, only nice hugs. If the two "friends" find that they have a mutual interest in exploring the possibility of marriage, they then agree to enter the courtship period where gentle and restrained kissing and hand-holding are allowed. The goal is to create and deepen personal intimacy and not short circuit the growth of genuine friendship with inappropriate physical intimacy. Certainly, many of us who are now married wish we would have had this type of book in hand years ago. It would have saved many a lot of needless confusion and trouble. You can find a more detailed review at my blog.

I agree with an earlier review that the subject matter is for mature audiences, but I believe that with the bombardment of sexual messages in our culture that this is appropriate for older teens who are eager to "date" and have boyfriends or girlfriends. It is really almost too late once they leave for college to have a strong influence.

This is the type of book that my mother would have read first and then given to me for reading and later discussion during my teen years. I think that it could open lines of communication between a teen and a parent of the same gender. If responsible adults won't provide the answers to their questions then teens will ask each other or turn elsewhere for information. I was surprised that this book actually tackled some very specific issues that teens in my parish high school program have brought up in (single sex) discussion groups such as what the church teaches is appropriate in marital relations and before marriage.

This book really helped me to understand the value of being a pure, holy woman of God and gave me concrete advice on how to attract a holy man of God. Our society constantly tells women that if they want to have a loving, fulfilling relationship with a man, then they have to have casual sex outside of marriage. Choosing that lifestyle leads to heartache and often has dire physical consequences. If you want to learn more about pursuing a holy path to courtship, then this book is for you. Even if you just want to see a different perspective on courtship and dating, this book is for you. I would highly recommend that anyone in search of a holy, fun, healthy and loving courtship give this book a shot. It is very much in line with the teachings of the Church and is orthodox in its content. I have given this book to several people who all love it as much as I did. It will definitely help you along the path of choosing wisely the person you will spend the rest of your life with!

If you are in high school or the parent of a high school student, you may want to check out materials by Mary Beth Bonacci. She gears her work more towards the high school age audience. Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World is an excellent book, but it focuses more on 20 and 30 somethings. To connect strongly with your teenagers about chastity, give them a copy of one of Mary Beth's books. They are awesome and teenagers love them. When they go off to college give them a copy of Fr. Morrow's book.

May the Lord bless and keep all those searching for a holy spouse.

I recently purchased this book and have found it refreshingly liberating. The author presents a traditional and healthy Catholic alternative to the dominant method that governs heterosexual relationships today. It preserves the dignity and of both sexes while it provides relatively simple, sense-filled and respectful (Christian) ways to approach perhaps the most important relationship you will have in this world.

Father Morrow wrote an excellent guide for anyone trying to live a chaste life. At times his phrases seem a bit comical or out-of-date, but his message is essential to anyone looking for a fulfilling relationship and his "rules" for maintaining one are strict but so wise. I would strongly recommend this book to people who are struggling to live the Church's teaching on chastity, and have actually done so to several of my friends, who also found the book helpful in the extreme.

Fr. Morrow's book is by far the best courtship guide for Catholics in print! Steve Wood's THE ABC'S OF FINDING A GOOD WIFE/HUSBAND books are good as supplements and Jason Evert's IF YOU REALLY LOVED ME is great as a primer for Teens and Chastity, but Fr. Morrow has written a book filled with deep insights and advice for faithful Catholic's looking to establish healthy and holy relationships. Fr. Morrow, who I've met mersonally, has changed my life through his work. I used to hold very pessemistic views about myself and relationships, after going through Fr. Morrow's book, I have a renewed outlook and a more real trust in God's plan for my life. This book should be required reading for young single Catholics. Parents, BUY THIS BOOK FOR YOUR TEENS! I cannot praisethis book enough. I think those who read this book with an open heart and mind, with grow in ways they may not have imagined.

This book was filled with practical advice. Though it takes a necessarily hard line, it is written in truth and with love. I highly recommend this to anyone who is seeking a God-glorifying relationship.

This book is amazing. It changed how my girlfriend and I view love between each other and between us and God and opened up a whole new world of the depth and beauty of Catholic teaching. Also, the book is great for learning how to be a great boyfriend/girlfirend for you significant other, what to look for in a potential significant other, and what to expect from him or her if he or she is really worthy of your love.

Truly a must-read for any young or old (parents, this would be great stuff to teach your kids) Catholic or maybe even Christian in general!

I bought this book in college soon after I converted to Catholicism, and although years later I have read other relationship books, this one was the first. The reason I bought it is because as a new convert I felt like I needed some Catholic advice about such a serious subject. This book did not disappoint, and frankly this book changed my life. After reading it I started to implement changes in my dating habits. Not only changes in my habits, but my whole attitude and mindset about dating changed as well. It helped me to fully understand and appreciate the Holy Sacrament of Marriage in a way no one had ever taught me before. What a wake-up call, and what a blessing! After reading (and re-reading) the book I started to live a more God-centered dating life, and very soon after I met the man God meant for me to be with! We are now married and joyfully awaiting the arrival of our first child. Anyone who is considering the vocation of marriage should read this book and seriously ponder its advice. This is certainly one of the best books for any serious-minded young (and not-so-young) Catholic to read.

I am a success story of a young woman who read this book and reaped the benefits of the wisdom it had to offer.

Like I said before, this book changed my life, Deo Gratias!