The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-12-12
BISHOP WIGGER'S ADDRESS.

copal visitation to st. Mary's Church, Erie
street, jersey City, on Thursday last. He
delivered an address to the congregation of
st. Mary's on Thursday evening. The
church was crowded, RS it was on the pre-
yious evening, when it was announced that
the Bishop would be present. The Right
Reverend Bishop announced, before begin
ming his discourse proper, that on the fol-
lowing morning he would offer up the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass fer the repose of the
souls of the deceased relatives and friends
of the congregation. He then said that in
making his visitations from one church to
another throughout the diocese he would
speak to the people on those subjects
which, according to their wants and CIR
cumstances, he might consider of greater
importance.
81 therefore intend" said the Bishop,
'.this evening to speak to you on three or
four different matters which / consider of
very great importance, especially at this
time The first of these is this: 1t is well
known to you, am sure, that the Holy
Roman Catholic Church has always consid-
cred the married state holy state. Our
Divine Savior himself, in order to show that
he considered it holy state, attended the
wedding or marriage feast that took place
in Palestine, at Cana in Galiloe and the
Evangelist tells us that the mother of Jesus
Christ was also there; and he further re-
lates that it was at the marriage of Cana
that our Lord performed his first miracle,
which showed forth both his power and his
Joy. So holy did he consider the married
state, and SO good and SO solemn the obll-
cations which it brings with it, that he
raised marriage to the dignity of Sacra-
ment, and made it one of the Seven Sacra-
ments which he instituted for the benefit
of mankind.
s'.Matrimony, my dearly beloved brethren,
is one of the Seven Sacramento instituted
by our Blessed Savior in order to give the
married couple the assistance and the
graces they stand in need of in order TO
perform all the duties of their state of life
in the way Almighty God intended they
should-not SO much with regard to the
happiness of this world, as that they should
work out their salvation, and bring up their
children in the fear and love of
God. Those Christians who receive
that Sacrament worthily obtain from
it many graces and much assistance
\ from Almighty God. Dearly beloved
\brethren, it is necessary in order to receive
this Sacrament well and worthily to make
preparation for the married state, not for
few days only or for few weeks or
months, but it is to be preparation of
years. And this preparation should be
made in the first place by devout and fer
vent prayer to Almighty God Christians
that intend to enter upon the married state,
and who desire TO receive the Sacrament of
HFox~ -
in manner pleasing to Almighty God, will
years before thst time often devoutly pray
TO Almighty God to direct them in the
choice of the helpmate they may select. A
great deal depends upon that choice, dear
ly beloved brethren; u great deal depends
upon proper choice of the husband or
the wife, as the case may be. Many a hus-
band has led an unhappy life and lost his
soul on account of the unfortunate choice
he made of his wife. Many a woman has
been made miserable in this life and gone
to hell afterwards on account. of the hus
band she chose, who instead of loving her
as he was bound to do-instead of making
her happy as he was bound to do--did the
very contrary, and induced her to break
the laws of God and damn her soul. GER
tainly will not go SO far as to say that in
the case of all those persons it was on ac-
count of their neglect to offer up frequent
and fervent prayer to God, asking him to
enlighten them and direct them in their
choice; but will say that in the case of
great many it was this neglect that brought
/1nisery upon them for time and eternity.
4 Many Catholic young men and Catholic
young women think of entering on the
married state without even once referring
this important matter to Almighty God,
and asking his help and assistance But
besides this earnest prayer to Almighty
God for direction, they should also frs
quently receive the sacraments; should
often go to confession and receive Holy
Communion. Beloved brethren, Catholic
men and Catholic women contemplating
marriage ought to make this preparation
wears before, to entreat Almighty God to en-
tighten them IN their choice; ought fire.
quently to go and make an humble and con-
trite confession of their sins and re-
ceive Holy Communion. How different
would it not have been for many, if
they had acted in this manner, if they had
thus obtained the blessing and assistance
of Almighty God. How little danger there
would be of our seeing persons who scan
dalize their neighbors by life of shame
and crime as a preparation for the holy
Sacrament of Matrimony The Holy Church
has directed that the Christian couple wish.
ing to be married should have this inten-
ton of theirs publicly proclaimed to the
congregation Of which they are. members,
80 that if there should be any impeachment
" to marriage, it may he made known to the
Npriest, and, beg of you to note this, also
N order that the congregation and the
parish may be informed of the intention of
that young Christian couple, to receive one
of the sacraments; that they intend to en-
ter upon the holy married state. There
fore, all those couples who thus wish to re-
ceive this sacrament ought to consider it