Have you ever seen or been a part of a terrible relationship? 

It’s easy to point out what’s going wrong in a terrible relationship and promise ourselves we’ll never be like that. It’s much harder to identify what’s going right in a great relationship, and strive to achieve that for ourselves.

Saint Prisca and her husband Aquila exemplify four signs of a thriving relationship. Here they are:

1. Common purpose. From the very beginning, Prisca and her husband shared the essential purpose of living holy lives—of becoming the-best-versions-of-themselves. When they met Paul in Corinth, they enthusiastically accepted his invitation to embark on the Christian journey together.

2. Never stop growing and seeking guidance. Whether their relationship was facing trouble or seemingly perfect, Prisca and Aquila were constantly learning from Paul and other Christian leaders, as well as becoming leaders for others. Their home became a place of worship and learning for the early Christians.

3. Hold each other accountable. With the constant pressure they were under, Prisca and Aquila had to hold each other accountable in both their professional and spiritual lives. They worked together as tentmakers, and this partnership prepared them for the spiritual work they would take on for the faith.

4. Don’t give up, no matter what. Saint Paul praises Prisca and Aquila for their selfless service to the Church and their perseverance, particularly when they risked their lives for him. They didn’t give up, even in the face of death.

Are you looking to strengthen your relationship? Or to lay the foundation for a good marriage? Pick one thing from this list and invite God into your relationship to help you work on it. Over time, you’ll experience your relationship thriving in ways you had never imagined.

Patron Saint of: Saint of Prisoners

Feast Day: January 18

Feast Day Shared by: Saint Margaret of Hungary