Sacramentum Matrimonii Sancti

Amici, Americani, Compatriotae,

Today for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time Father Kirby continued his series on the Sacraments, speaking on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony at Our Lady of Grace. The Scripture readings included the following:

• Freedom of Choice: Sirach 15:15-20
• The Glory of God's Law: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
• The True Wisdom of God: 1st Corinthians 2:6-10
• Fulfilling the Law: Matthew 5:17-37

Father opened with a story. A certain women was married for decades and provided years of faithful service to her husband, her family and her Church. She one day dies and goes to stand before the Pearly Gates where St. Peter asks her to spell the password in order to gain entrance. She asks what the password may be and St. Peter says, "Love." So she successfully spells the word - L-O-V-E - but is surprised to now find her husband awaiting to enter. She asks him the same thing that St. Peter had asked her: to spell the password. He innocently asks her what the password may be and she responds with the word, "Czechoslovakia." Ha! Ha!

We are currently in the middle of National Marriage Week which this year is celebrated from February 7 to 14. As Catholic Christians we approach marriage differently than the pagans in secular society and separated Protestant brethren. For us marriage has a deeper meaning. It is a calling, a vocation by God and a gift to two baptized Christians to serve one another.

Marriage never survives by its own strength but only by the grace of God. At marriage the man and woman take vows which on their own they are incapable of satisfying. But with God's grace they are provided with the power to fulfill their vows. Further, marriage is this composed not of two persons but three: man, woman and God. It is God who provides the adhesive power in the Sacrament.

This Sacrament is always between one man and one woman regardless of what the popular culture teaches or legalizes by legislation or judicial fiat. Indeed the Devil hates marriage as such because it is a reflection of Christ and the Church as St. Paul describes in Ephesians 2:22-33. Marriage embodies the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-11. Marriage consists in service to and honor for one another as equals in dignity while being necessarily unequal in function. When therefore we say, "I cannot do this marriage any long," that is the time to let God's grace work. When marriage is strong, then:

• The Church is strong
• Society is strong
• The Family is strong

The best teachers of this Sacrament are therefore the ones who faithfully discharge their sacramental vows: the married man and woman, the ones who take their vocation seriously.

The priest unlike other Sacraments is not the Minister of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Rather, the baptized man and woman give to one another the Sacrament of Marriage and the priest blesses the self-giving. The priest defends the Eucharist and the sanctity of the Confessional with his life if necessary. In the same manner the married must defend their marriage.

Towards the twilight years of our lives we become "empty-nesters" as children have left for lives of their own. Sometimes we may find ourselves strangers one to another. This is the opportunity to grow deeper in the Sacrament which is service of many and woman to each other. Let us therefore pray for society, the Church and the married, for without the integrity of this Sacrament the foundation of the nation herself is at risk.