May 8, 2024
Irene Lorenzo and Fernando Ranninger celebrated their silver anniversary a few months ago. “Preparing for it in a special way was on our to-do list,” they told us, and the opportunity arrived when some friends invited them to participate in Sponsus. After going through this seminar, Fernando describes it as “re-centering our focus on the meaning of marriage, elevating the meaning of all those things you do ‘on autopilot,’ being aware of its significance, and enjoying what God gives us.”
Sponsus is a seminar that takes place over a weekend and that is part of the formative itinerary offered by Regnum Christi to married couples in Spain. It was founded by the Italian priest Renzo Bonetti in his work Mistero Grande. Irene and Fernando, with three daughters (one in heaven) and two sons, explain, “Sponsus is to enjoy marriage—in spite of all our defects that remain within us, but with renewed enthusiasm and happiness, because Christ is with us.”
Sponsus is a groundbreaking seminar that changes one’s way of focusing on and viewing marriage. What has it meant for you to participate?
Irene: Sponsus has been our silver anniversary gift, a huge surprise. It has meant not a new perspective on our marriage, but a new dimension: an us with God. I don’t think there is a more complete human relationship that this. It is a vocation to love for eternity.
Fernando: Participating in Sponsus helped us re-center our focus on the meaning of marriage—updating, or better, elevating the meaning of all those things you do “on autopilot,” being aware of its significance, and enjoying what God gives us.
How do you think this is going to change you?
Irene: We have resumed prayer times together and a time to speak alone as a priority, making time for interior silence something g normal in our lives.
Fernando: We have several tasks in mind—some organizational, already defined—to maintain this new perspective. There are others we have to continue reflecting on and praying about together in order to understand our marriage, this gift of God, better.
In Sponsus, the presence of other couples is important, both when doing the seminar and as part of the organization. What has this given you?
Irene: The couples participating in the seminar with us were another discovery. At every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we got to know different people of all ages. The atmosphere was open, joyful, and familiar, as if we already knew each other. We had very special moments to share our thoughts and feelings. It was truly precious.
Fernando: As for the couples in the organization, a big thank-you for their prayers, attention, support, guidance, all the details, kindness… They are a fundamental part of this experience. Plus, I’m sure that they got at least as much out of it as we did because God repays service to others in great abundance. Having Legionary priests and Consecrated Women in the group of organizers was also very enriching.
What role will Christ play in your marriage now?
Irene: I want to live marriage as God has planned for us. St. John Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio speaks of the renewal of the grace of the sacrament. Through this, Christ will lead us on our path to live happily day by day, without allowing so many little things to smother all our desires for this. It is certainly a whole life renewal.
Fernando: Christ has always been fundamental in our family. The experience of Sponsus has enlightened our marriage and the relationship between our marriage and Christ.
If you had to recommend Sponsus to another couple, what would you tell them?
Irene: To participate in Sponsus, it is necessary to bring a little faith and openness. They are like the ‘username and password’ to enter into a room illuminated by God, in which you glimpse the life project of each couple: the who, how, and where. I would love to share this seminar with my friends.
Fernando: It’s wrong to go into this thinking, “I already know everything, there is always so much to do, what are they going to tell me that I don’t already know, I’m too lazy…” What we thought before going was the complete opposite, “Wow, I have to get out of my comfort zone!” This is how we can enjoy marriage—in spite of all our defects that remain within us, but with renewed enthusiasm and happiness, because Christ is with us. In the end, we went because we trusted some friends who invited us, and we are very thankful to them.
We also want to invite all the couples who read this to participate in Sponsus.
