Dear Anna:

I am saddened to hear of your divorce. The death of a marriage is always sad.

We must remember that each person has free will. We cannot force them to remain in the marriage. Some thirty-years ago my wife left with another man. I could not chain her to the house. I asked her to come back, but she did not. I had to accept that fact and move on.

I think what you can do is to pray the following prayer for a while, maybe a few months, and see if there is any crack in his attitude and intent. After that perhaps it will be time to move on. I held on to the possibility of my wife returning for about five months. After that it seemed pretty obvious that she would not return.

In terms of what happens when it is obvious that it is over and one must move on...

1) You will grieve the death of the marriage. Do not be afraid to do that.

2) It takes about five years to grieve and get to a point where the pain of the divorce is mostly faded.

3) It is critically important for a person not get involved in another relationship for at least one year. The first year is the hardest and the time in which you are most vulnerable.

4) Get on with your life.

We will be praying for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Here is the prayer modified a little because in your case the divorce has already happened:

Trusting in the promise that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus' name He will do, I now approach You Father with confidence in Our Lord's words and in Your infinite power and love for me and for my     [husband's name]     and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, Blessed Archangel Michael, the guardian angels of myself and     [husband's name]    , with all the saints and angels of heaven, and Holy in the power of His blessed Name, as ask you Father to send forth Your Spirit to convict     [husband's name]     and to allow him to see any and all wrongs that he has done and how they offend Your infinite goodness.

Father I ask in sorrow, knowing that You do not intrude upon free will, but that You can give Divine Influence like you did with Hosea's wife, that You send a hedge of thorns and wall around     [husband's name]     so that he cannot find the paths that lead him away You or from me and our marriage, and that though he shall pursue his     [i.e. lovers, lifestyle, sinful ways, etc.]    , he will not find satisfaction or happiness until he returns to You, and if possible to me and our marriage. Help him to be taught by Your Holy Spirit about the true meaning of marriage and sexuality and to be a good and loving husband, and to know the ways of righteousness and true manhood.

Father, I am powerless against these spiritual forces and recognize my utter dependence on You and Your power. Look with mercy upon me and upon my husband. Do not look upon his sins, O Lord; rather, look at the sufferings of your Beloved Son and see the Victim who's bitter passion and death has reconciled us to You. By the victory of the cross, protect us from all evil and rebuke any evil spirits who are attacking or influencing us in any way. Send them back to Hell and place a wall of protection around this marriage, if indeed we can be reunited. Send your Holy Angels to watch over and protect my husband and to help him to decide what is right and true.

Father, all of these things I ask in the most holy name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you, Father, for hearing my prayer. I love You, I worship You, I thank You and I trust in You. Amen.