The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-11
Lozzz1-At<6-
iva Weddings.

I,~a. oqr privilege, last Saturday, al! "'o' d
.o 7.- =, two weddings; :; asd it seemed TO Us
rhac ,be bzsa:ital .pirit Of Christianity "nlea a
Al mated these solemn ceremonies should make g
them Of interest TO all our Catholic readers
Ooe took place in the morning, a. the SoP1laI !
Mas ef=red for the youthful pair, IN the ,
Church Of So. Stephen, Boulgny; the other :
"a. r..rtornet in the evening at the pretty
1i,,1s Church of ST. Mary, Carrollton :; bat ,
both were rep!ete With Catholic Faith and
Christian decorrn. ;
TIE ceremony Of the Sup:lal Mass, however
rad a higher interest than any other can pos
sess fo- i. vas direct recurrence, as II We'e'
ef the IN arriags feast OF Cana where Oar Loio
a:ns7e,f participated in the festivities and
hs.za.ene4 the enjoyment Of the guests, by
cbaogioE the water of earthly pleasure ln'o
! the vine of heavenly JOY
+ AL the prayers az this nuPtial ceremony are
full Of grace and meaning, teaching man bis
rue dignity, woman her zeal excellence and
proving TO the world the indissolubility OF the
marriage bonds by these words OF the gospel
spoken by the Saviour to the questioning
Pbarisee: VIVA: God hath joined together, let
10 man put asunder"
When these solemn words of St Paul, ''mGr. /
riaoe IL great sgeravent resound from the steps
of the altar and when the priest of God throws
around the marriage state the conservation OF
Heaven and the benediction of the Most High,
proclainipg il sacred, inviolable, sublime, who
shall dare TO repeat the lie that the Catholic
Church disconntenances the marriage state or
looks upon il with disfavor. The Catholic
Church. which alone, in all the world, asserts
Il it's indi.solubity and surrocnds it with the
protection OF her Mi kEty arm. Sne alone ares
-, to pronounce a. anAtbema upon the man who
. pat. away his wife, upon the woman who
I=aves ner husband for another
The Church is accused Of selling her favors
or OF granting di=p.usatons from certain ob!i-
y cations. In regard 70 dispensation from obiiga
E tious imposed by herself, this power eZ sts
She can & Gsspeuse, for Instance from the IA" OF
fasting or from other disciplinary acts, for
these are a part of her own code aud the
= power that binds ca1 loosen if it choose; bat
in regard 10 the Jaws OF her Divine Founder
J. there exists 40 such power in her hands.
cannot, i- her ans yer 20 auy such demand.
These few word cost her the whole of Eog-
{ land in the days Of Henry Viii bIt she con-
Times 70 repeat them s'iii.
.n We know several instances Of s1-calIed Ca
IL thoIics who have broken the marriage bond
s. and then asked Ia Catholic priest to uuite them
er to other parties: bnt the answer, stern arC
= unconditional, " as the same: can not. Anc
10 We have known the same parties, when re
ha morse was eating at their hearts, TO seek tbs
.. tribunal of Penapce in the vain hope Of finding
- peace and pardon; but the reply was still IN
changed :"I can give absoluton 50 long a.
y" you live in violation of the laws of God"
All! there are many hungry souls to-day
lon ging for the words which will restore Peac
n to troubled consciences, who canuot have "ha
ed they desire, because they are too weak t
cts break the tie which keeps them far from God
is because they will not acknowledge that mai
he riage is a great sacrament" in the Lord, an
he bond which 60 earthly power can brea
nat without committing sin.
The young couple whose lives were unite
~ Saturday, at the foot of the altar, with all tt
@" blessings Mother Church can give, realized tt
Us W greatness of this Sacrament and the duties
ne iuposes so that it was with humble yet graf
oily fol hearts they approached the Table OF II
nor Lord there to receive for the frat sime, ma
bi- and wife, the Body and Blood of Christ. VIII;
of holier preparation be made by Christian
for the new life before them, than this blesse
,ns communion with their Guide and Master, VIII
,oir having blessed their marriage bond, will gi1
- them strength to keep its obligations to Il
oro endi
iect The evening ceremony, although necessari
in not as holy as that OF the morning. was, neve
tra- theless very touching and beautiful; and
,ida the young people were deprived of the il
mediate presence of their Lord within the
hearts, they endeavored to atone for this 10
by specially inviting His Blessed Mother
'Pel their wedding feast for it at her fee
ugh before her own altar, they made one.
aian The Church in Csrrollton has an altar spe
rier tally dedicated to Lady Of Lourdes, and
ldes was resplendently Illuminated for this occ