Celebrating the Bond: World Marriage Day Shines a Light on the Beauty of Matrimony
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February 12, 2025This weekend, the Church joyfully celebrated World Marriage Day, a special occasion dedicated to recognizing and reflecting on the invaluable institution of marriage that holds our society together. How did you celebrate it? How did your diocese, parish, or organization mark this beautiful event?
While I can't provide exact numbers, I'm certain many parishes and dioceses marked the day with heartfelt events, blessings, or tokens of appreciation for married couples. It's a wonderful opportunity to show how much we value and cherish the Sacrament of Matrimony and marriage in general.
The Catholic Church strongly supports marriage, both in our doctrine and in practice, as evidenced by the Sacrament of Matrimony. However, it's essential to address the needs of married couples and support engaged ones in a more deliberate way. Promoting marriage in the Church is essential. According to a 2015 Pew Research survey, up to one-third of Catholics married outside the Church, and only 6% of that group later received the Sacrament of Matrimony. This highlights the need for better communication for couples to fully embrace the role marriage plays in their sacramental life.
The Church's teachings, encapsulated in the phrase "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi" (we pray what we believe and live what we believe), remind us that our actions and lives should reflect our faith and beliefs. This applies to all sacraments, including marriage, and calls us to live out the true meaning and values of matrimony.
To fully support marriages, dioceses and parishes must invest in marriage ministry. While budgets can be tight, prioritizing strong, happy, and healthy marriages and families is crucial. All vocations emerge from the foundation of Holy Matrimony, and nurturing this foundation should be a primary focus.
It's never too late to do the right thing. National Marriage Week and World Marriage Day remind us of the importance of marriage, but we don't need to wait for these occasions to show our appreciation and support for the marriages around us. Let's celebrate and honor the beauty and significance of marriage every day!
