And it is an invitation from God for all of us to bring our burdens to Him, leave them there in His Presence, be fed by his most Holy Sacrament, and go away lighter and less burdened, stronger and fed in body and soul. It is what we do, week by week. And it gives added, fuller meaning to our Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. And we do not understand our faith, gratitude, optimism, baptism or Eucharist to be something experienced alone, but rather in community. And the outward and visible sign of our community is focused in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
Marriage is a covenant in which the bride and groom publicly commit themselves to each other.
Couples who only live together usually retain a sense of personal freedom and independence. But, at their marriage, they experience a new reality in which the primary unit is the two of them. No one is required to be married. But we all look to Holy Matrimony as the image of our wider community. At Baptism and Matrimony, everyone in the congregation take a public view to support those people who are being baptized or married.