Forward
by Dr. Ariel Remos

Living is a necessity, but above all, it is an art. Life is bestowed upon us, but it is up to us to decide what to do with it (as the Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset might say). And to give shape to the life that we are granted is our most important task. How we go about this will determine whether we do a good or a bad job, as living is much more than simply existing to fulfill our biological necessities. Life must extend from the intimate to the transcendental, and this must occur within a prearranged social and historical framework. This framework is closely related to the transcendental
side of life, since human beings live in a world in which moral values exist. In an objectivization process, these values lend a greater meaning to life, and quality of life depends on how different individuals approach them, either accepting or rejecting them.

We have before us a book whose essence is a subject that has concerned philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, and educators throughout the past century: the constant struggle between morals and material progress, and how moral consciousness has been subjugated by materialism, hedonism, pragmatism, the culture of convenience, and the lack of commitment to ethical values.

This is the background for the central focus of this book—marriage, as its title indicates. Moreover, its goal goes beyond examining the institution of marriage. It aims to describe the reach of the concept and the expression of love between husbands and wives, as well as other equally worthy concepts. It also offers an analysis of present-day society and its faults and failures. In this light, marriage, an essential value as the core of family life, is examined both in its present state as an institution within our society, and in its ideal state. The authors examine the elements that are necessary for the success of this institution, given that the failure of marriage represents the failure of society as a whole, just as its success represents a successful society.

Marriage is in crisis, and we must do all that we can to save it. If our goal is to create an orderly society, the authors tell us, we must resolve the crisis that exists in the most important of all social institutions. Of course, none of the book’s recommendations can be taken unless the existence of God is kept ever present. In order to make things work, we must believe in Him and
always maintain the conviction that through Him everything is possible. Unfortunately, the authors lament, God has been removed from our classrooms, due to the liberal forces that influence the media and the lack of a clear sense of the consequences stemming from our judges’ decisions. And these factors may lead to the greater evil of a progressive weakening of our faith in God.

It seems that we sometimes fail to take into account that “man without God is more dangerous than a hungry feline.” Thus the recognition of God is essential to the salvation of human beings and their surroundings. These surroundings, vividly presented in the pages of this book, are the setting for cases such as the tragedy at Columbine High School, with its demonic young killers, the fruit of dysfunctional families, led astray by television shows teeming with lewdness and bad examples, movies loaded with violence, the sensationalist press, and advertising agencies that seek nothing but profit; a society where nothing is considered immoral so long as it’s legal, and where wrongdoing is interpreted with the lenience that is a reflection of a destructive ideology; a society that adores unbridled pleasure, money, fame, power, and sex as if they were gods...

In opposition to all of this, we have moral norms and a solid work ethic, and a true commitment to these norms. These are the elements of the genuine art of living, where the family—the outcome of a good marriage—is the center around which a healthy society revolves.

This and more can be found in the pages of this pathfinding book, written as a result of life experiences lived to their fullest and enriched by the passage of time. The values described and defended here have been put into practice by the authors as the only possible way of counteracting the crisis suffered by the family in our times, and whose problems often stem from the fact that people share the same house but do not function as a true family.

In the search for happiness—sustain the authors— the problem lies in the conflict between two forces. However, happiness can be found if we learn to live a simple life—which can be intense and at the same time filled with hope and joy—and never forget that we are all in this together as children of God.

That is to say, none of this is possible without an encounter with God, from whom man has strayed only to find pain and confusion. The authors sum up the matter by saying, “Scientific advances, socialist theories that leave a heavy mark of atheism in their wake, and the liberalism that promotes the erosion of eternal values make us feel like we are experiencing the end of the world.” They also point out that, “Those who carry a sense of God within, whether by heritage, contagion, or experience, require no guidance.”

If I had to point out the most outstanding characteristic of this book, I would choose its message of salvation. Using well-defined formulas, this book comes to the rescue of a confused society, led astray by misinformation and evil forces, which are often present in society’s most influential institutions and media. The authors examine a world in which values have been subverted, and in so doing, their aim is not to criticize but rather to seek solutions. The beauty of this book lies in the value of its warnings and advice; it provides the reader with the guidance necessary for distinguishing the right way from the wrong, and offers a series of values to help protect us against wrongdoing in society at large.