Saintly Inspiration for Your Marriage: 'Holier Matrimony'

Taryn DeLong reviews Catholic Mom contributor Caitrin Bennett's new book about saints who can inspire us in our vocation of marriage.

Holier Matrimony: Married Saints, Catholic Vows, and Sacramental Grace

By Caitrin Bennett
Publisher: Marian Press

Some of my favorite saints — Thérèse of Lisieux, Mother Teresa, Edith Stein — were religious sisters. But since I got married four years ago, it’s been a joy to discover married saints as well, like Saint Zélie (Thérèse’s mother) and Saint Gianna Molla. A new book by CatholicMom.com contributor Caitrin Bennett offers inspiration from Zélie and eight other married saints (or saints-to-be) to encourage you in your vocation as a wife.  

Holier Matrimony: Married Saints, Catholic Vows, and Sacramental Grace, published by Marian Press, is organized into nine chapters, each about a part of the Catholic marriage vows and featuring a saintly wife, husband, or couple who exemplified it. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Loving Freely: Saints Louis and Zélie Martin  

Saint Thérèse was my Confirmation saint, and since becoming a wife and mother I’ve also developed devotions to her mother, Zélie, and her sister, Servant of God Léonie Martin. As an entrepreneur and working mom, Zélie is also one of our patrons at Catholic Women in Business and a saint featured in my book, Holy Ambition. There is so much to learn from this relatively modern, very relatable, very holy family.  

In Holier Matrimony, Bennett shares a brief biography of Zélie and Louis, the first married couple ever canonized together. Then, she discusses the attitudes and habits they cultivated to become free of unhealthy attachments. These habits enabled them to more freely love each other, their children, and God. For example, Zélie’s lace-making business was so successful that Louis closed his watch-making shop to join her business, and the family were well off. However, they “practiced small sacrifices” to help ensure that they were not attached to their wealth — that they relied on God rather than their finances.  

I know, having read Zélie’s letters, that she worried a lot about all of the work she had to do for her business and her family and struggled with juggling all of her responsibilities (something all of us moms, “stay-at-home moms” and “working moms” alike, can relate to!). As Bennett says, however, “when [Zélie] finally let go and entrusted those worries to God, she felt liberated.” 

Loving Fruitfully: Blesseds Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi  

Who will give me the strength to think of two children? To endure the physical and physiological exhaustion of pregnancy and the rest? … Believe me, I am truly in despair. (Blessed Maria Quattrocchi) 

Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi were married in 1905 and had their first child before their first anniversary. Maria experienced severe morning sickness and, in her fourth pregnancy, “violent hemorrhaging and long periods of being bedridden,” followed by placenta previa. Her doctors recommended abortion, telling her she had a 5% or less change of surviving the pregnancy, but she courageously kept the baby and was induced at eight months. Both Maria and the baby, Enrichetta, survived and were healthy.  

The Quattrocchis are great examples and intercessors for mothers for whom pregnancy is harder than it is for most and for couples who are struggling to be fruitful physically or spiritually. As Bennett says, “A couple that was so involved with their community and who lived out their faith in their daily lives so well couldn’t help but attract spiritual children.” In addition to their community service, Luigi served on corporate and political boards, and Maria cultivated an “apostolate of the pen” as her children grew older, writing articles on topics such as marriage, family life, and education.  

You are called to witness the Fruits of the Holy Spirit to your spouse and your children, because this fruitfulness will then overflow from your family out into the world — just like the Quattrocchis did. 

In Sickness and in Health: Servants of God Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba  

Cyprien Rugamba “returned” his wife, Daphrose, to her family, which Bennett notes is “a grave insult in [their] Rwandan culture” (I think it’s insulting in any culture!). He had multiple affairs, one of which led to a daughter, and showed great “disdain for [Daphrose’s] Catholic faith.”  

Daphrose, however, adopted the daughter Cyprien had with another woman, took her and their nine other children to Mass every week, and continuously prayed for him. When Cyprien developed a mysterious and serious illness, she cared for him until he was miraculously cured on the flight to Belgium, where they were seeking treatment. 

“From that moment on,” Cyprien wrote, “the Lord has never ceased to enlighten and attract me.”  

Cyprien and Daphrose were married for 12 more years, during which they became involved with The Emmanuel Community, a Charismatic community, and helped create a marriage preparation class for it. Cyprien spoke out against the growing racist violence in Rwanda. He and his wife were tragically killed on the first day of the Rwandan genocide, along with six of their children. Their surviving physical and spiritual children carry on their legacy to this day.  

Bennett spoke with Jean-Luc Moens, a member of The Emmanuel Community and a friend of the Rugambas. He told her:

They died because they were witnesses of love. If the Church declares martyrdom for this group, we will have the beatification of an entire family, parents and children. It would be a sign for our time, which needs the witness of family holiness. 

What an incredible example of self-sacrificial love — both for each other and for their country! Like the other men and women in Holier Matrimony, they inspire me to better love my husband, my children, and the other people God has put in my life. 

Ask for Holier Matrimony at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Marian Press.

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Copyright 2025 Taryn DeLong
Images: Canva