Dear readers and contributors,
Voice & Virtue is pleased to announce the theme for our second issue: "Covenant Bonds: Marriage and Sacrificial Love." Following the success of our inaugural exploration of the Holy Family, we now turn our attention to the most profound marriage of all—Christ's eternal union with His Church—and how this divine covenant illuminates both sacramental marriage and sacrificial love in our daily lives.
The Theme
Our second issue draws inspiration from Ephesians 5:25:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
This scripture reveals marriage not merely as a social contract but as a living icon of Christ's relationship with His Church. Just as Christ demonstrated the ultimate act of sacrificial love through His death on the cross, marriage calls us to a life of mutual self-giving. In an era where traditional marriage faces unprecedented challenges and our culture questions its sacrificial nature, we seek to explore how this divine model of love transforms our understanding of human relationships and shapes our capacity for sacrifice.

Our Vision's Thematic Connection
At Voice & Virtue, we believe that the truth about marriage and sacrificial love must be expressed not only through reasoned argument but through the transformative power of art and literature. We seek works that illuminate both the mystical marriage between Christ and His Church and how this perfect union provides the pattern for human marriage. Through this lens, we explore how commitment, fidelity, and self-giving love create the essential foundation upon which families and communities flourish.
This issue aims to examine marriage through multiple lenses—from the sublime mystery of Christ's union with His Church to the daily challenges and joys of human marriage. We believe that both theological reflection on Christ's sacrificial love and secular conservative wisdom can shed light on why marriage remains irreplaceable in building a healthy society.
Call for Submissions
Catholic and Christian Conservative Literature and Art
We welcome submissions that thoughtfully engage with marriage and sacrificial love, including:
Poetry that captures both the mystical union of Christ and His Church and the profound moments of human married life
Fiction that explores how sacrificial love transforms relationships and communities
Essays examining the theological significance of Christ's marriage to the Church and its implications for human marriage
Visual art representing both divine and human expressions of covenant love
Personal narratives that connect Christ's sacrificial love to the daily practice of marriage
Cultural commentary that addresses how Christ's example of sacrificial love speaks to contemporary challenges in marriage and family life
Theological reflections on marriage as a living symbol of Christ's love for the Church
Socially conservative perspectives on how sacrificial love strengthens society through marriage
Submission Period: January 1, 2025 - February 15, 2025
While we particularly value works that explore the rich theological dimensions of Christ's marriage to the Church, we also welcome perspectives from conservative writers and artists who approach marriage and sacrificial love from secular viewpoints that affirm their essential nature and social importance. Our goal is to create a rich dialogue that demonstrates why marriage, as a permanent and exclusive bond between husband and wife, remains vital for human flourishing.
We invite you to contribute your voice to this crucial conversation about the nature of love, sacrifice, and the enduring significance of marriage in our world.
Our journal seeks to publish works that not only defend marriage intellectually but celebrate its beauty and mystery through the power of artistic expression. We believe that by sharing stories, poems, and images that capture the truth about Christ's sacrificial love and its reflection in married love, we can touch hearts and minds in ways that mere arguments cannot.
Read our Submission Guidelines to get started!
We look forward to reading your contributions and sharing them with our growing community of readers dedicated to faith, tradition, and artistic excellence.
Together, let's explore the depths of covenant love—from Christ's perfect sacrifice to its living expression in marriage—and its power to transform individuals, families, and society. Join us in creating works that inspire, challenge, and uplift.
Sincerely,
LyLena D. Estabine
Founder, Voice & Virtue
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