A reader writes

My wife and I are going through a very tough time right now, all of which is my fault. Money is tight, and both of our stress levels are skyrocketing. And the other morning, I went on a tirade and said some unconscionable things. I can’t unsay them, and I can’t excuse them, and I fear that we are heading toward divorce. What I said doesn’t reflect at all the way I feel about her, for I love her more than anything. Yet I still said them, in a horrible moment of weakness and darkness, and I am terrified that I’ve just thrown away everything with her. I don’t know how to go about fixing it, or even if I can fix it. I want to desperately. I don’t know what advice you might be able to give, if any, but any prayers would be appreciated. I don’t really feel right in asking for this, because I don’t think I deserve it, but anything you and your readers could do in any small way would help.

Don’t worry about deserving prayers. None of us do. But God loves you and your wife and desires your happiness more than you do. I’m reluctant to give personal advice on my blog, for the very good reason that I’m an ignoramus about marriage and family counseling and so are the vast majority of my readers (none of whom know you any more than I do). Yet experience shows that when you ask for advice in cyberspace, what you wind up with is a bunch of people in comboxes, passing judgment on you, your wife, your dog, your relationship with God and a lot of other hurtful gossip and speculation from brutal loudmouths who imagine God has called them to tell you what a bad person you are. So, while I’m happy to pray for you, my advice is a) go to confession, b) talk to your priest and/or a family therapist and c) don’t read the comboxes on this prayer request lest, in exposing your heart, you find some helpful reader is only too happy to stick a shiv in it. I wish it weren’t so, but long experience has taught me that the Internet is the agora, not the sanctuary. It’s a great place to swap ideas and goods, but a lousy place to look for solace or spiritual succor.

As to prayer: Father, please grant your son and daughter the grace to return to the love they pledged each other on their wedding day. Help their struggles with money bring them together and find in each other a help and support against the common foe of sin and help them to find ways to praise and bless each other and see the great beauty you have hidden in the heart of each of them: the beauty they saw when they first fell in love. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ. Mother Mary, and St. Joseph, helps of those struggling with money, pray for them.