"THREE FOR MARRIAGE"

For the testimony that I want to share on this occasion, I have chosen by title the name of the famous book written by Father José Miguel Miranda Arraiza.

The protagonists of this story, Jorge Contreras and Fabiola Rengifo think that God gave them to each other as husband and wife. Each unknowingly, independently, and from his youth, in prayer asked God to "marry for the Catholic", to form a family under his blessing, and so it happened in their lives.

Fabiola studied Hotel Administration, exercised her profession, and worked in a hotel where they met. He studied English, and had worked as a flight attendant. He comments that he grew up in a Catholic family of Mass and daily rosary, and studied in a Catholic school. But he did not consider himself a practicing Catholic. She says about this: "I met the Lord through Jorge."

In Jorge's family it was not customary for his parents to attend Mass. But he and his brothers went every Sunday, in order given by Dad. They received the Sacraments of Christian initiation, made the first Communion, and each one was celebrated, but when Jorge's time came, there was no money for the party, then he waited and prepared again, but then it was not possible either. Finally on the advice of a Priest he confessed and received communion on one day of the week. As a child he frequented the temple, and went with pleasure.

Jorge also worked in his profession, as a Civil Engineer. He had said to God once: "I want the life you give." But it was the time of the parties. I drank and smoked on weekends. He felt that in a way he lost his north.

Fabiola and Jorge, met through a mutual friend, in Bogotá, approximately 30 years ago. For him it was love at first sight, but it was not the same for her. It felt very good, but more calm, and they maintained a friendship of telephone communication. Jorge called her a certain frequency, and on some occasions he asked her, if she would marry him, and Fabiola, who at first did not take that proposal seriously, one day said “YES”.

By then he was no longer working in Bogotá, but he moved back to the City, to prepare, and organize things. They had a nice courtship. They enjoyed and shared many activities, attended prayer groups on Saturdays, also a Catholic Community led by a brother of Jorge, wished from the heart to put themselves in the hands of God.

Before getting married they understood that if they wanted to remain under sacramental discipline, not decline in the face of adversity, and grow old together, they should be with God. And as they themselves express it: "before we got married we understood that the marriage had to be three".

The Marriage Ceremony was beautiful and unforgettable, and of great joy for the two families. They married on an October afternoon in 1996. Jorge's brothers acted as Monaguillos. They had 2 children, who are currently 21 and 19 years old.

Jorge and Fabiola are practicing Catholics, serve on the altar, visit the sick, participate as extraordinary Ministers of the Communion, and collaborate in some way in their Parish. They are of Mass and daily rosary, they support each other.

In this walk as a couple, difficult times have come, some have been delayed longer than others, but they have also passed. The joys have been countless and the presence of God has been permanent in their lives.

I received this testimony from Jorge and Fabiola on April 11, 2019.

I want to end this story, with the text in which Father Miranda's book is inspired, whose authorship is by Teihard de Chardin: "Love is a function with three terms: man, woman, and" GOD ". All its perfection and success are linked to the harmonious combination of these three elements. ”