Although I can understand your pragmatic, jaded, "seen-it-all-done-it-all" attitude towards this topic, I couldn't help but be reminded of a biblical passage at your mention of the word "terror" -- the words of St. Paul, where he talks about working out his salvation in "fear and trembling."
If you wont' answer my other question, at least tell me if you dispute these facts:
Fact 1: Cohabitating before marriage is a mortal sin.
Fact 2: A single mortal sin, unrepented, will damn someone to hell for all of eternity.
Fact 1: Cohabitating before marriage is a mortal sin.
Yes.
Fact 2: A single mortal sin, unrepented, will damn someone to hell for all of eternity.
Yes.
But when I talk to engaged couples, I try what works.
Threatening with hell just doesn't work for me.
Maybe it does with you.