Living a Vowed Life

Dear Parishioners,

We might believe that summer is a quiet time for our parish, but many things continue to happen. We had an uptick in the number of weddings this summer. This seems to be a positive development. It is good to see young people are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony. 

If a young couple marries in the church, it is more likely they will have their children baptized and educate them in the Catholic faith. If a couple forgoes a Catholic marriage, this may mean they are stepping away from the Catholic faith, at least for a while.

Marriage is one of the most sacramental of all sacraments. Why? Because the married couple is a living breathing example of the love Christ has for His church. The married couple is engaged in a covenant. Jesus has a covenant with each baptized believer. Jesus never forgets us. His Holy Spirit is always present in our lives. 

When we live a vowed life, we need all the grace we can receive. Vows are promises made before God. A bride or groom makes promises to their spouse. And they also make a promise to God when they say, “I do.” This makes the vows a reverent action and a sacred one.

A church wedding says something about the seriousness of the couple that desires that their marital bond be a sacramental bond. A sacramental wedding has a different feeling to it. 

I ask everyone to pray for all those getting married this summer. Almost all the couples I prepare for marriage are delightful young people who want to be as close to the Lord as they are to each other.

I hope you have a happy Independence Day.

Blessings,

Fr. Mark