St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center - West Lafayette, IN - April 2026

Wednesday April 29, 2026 - Key Ideas 📌

  • Summary

    • Modern dating is often experienced as complicated—both because of cultural factors and because Catholics must also discern God’s will and multiple layers of vocation, not just marriage itself.

    • The Christian vision clarifies this by placing dating within a larger framework: first the universal call to holiness, then a personal mission, and only then the discernment of one’s state in life.

    • Dating with marriage in mind therefore means approaching relationships with intentionality, focusing on deeper forms of attraction, integrated intimacy, honest communication, and wise boundaries.

    • Ultimately, the foundation of all dating and marriage is trust in God, recognizing that no relationship can fulfill the deepest desires of the human heart - only God can.

    • When God is rightly placed at the center, both dating and marriage become places where love can truly grow and thrive.

  • Key Scriptures

    • Matthew 6:33 - “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you, as well.”

Reflection Questions 🤔

  1. How are you currently approaching dating - more as something casual and reactive, or as something intentional with a clear vision toward marriage?

  2. Which of the three vocations (holiness, personal mission, or state in life) have you been focusing on most - and which might God be inviting you to pay more attention to right now?

  3. Where might you need clearer boundaries or greater intentionality (time, setting, communication) to better align your dating life with your values?

  4. Do you truly trust God with your future in relationships, or do you find yourself trying to control outcomes, and what would it look like to grow in that trust?

Pray 🙏

Take time to talk with God about his plan and purpose for your life. Mention out loud to him, specifically, what excites you and frightens you. Remain in attentive silence for a few minutes listening for the ways God speaks to you about what you have shared. If you keep a prayer journal write down what you heard.

Share in the Comments Below 👇👇👇

  • If you were at the talk, what stuck with you - something that challenged the way you see things and/or the way you live?

  • Please do share your ideas / musings / further questions below in the comments!