The Irish standard., 1897-12-25
MIXED MARRIAGES.
Fr. C1eary Speaks ON the Topic at
st. Charles Church,

Of st. Charles last Sunday evening. Tho
following is very brief synopsis of his
remarks: The Catholic church can
never permit Its members to forget that
the marriage relation is the most nti-
mate, as we'll as the most sacred rela-
tion that can exist between human he
lnss. 1t Is a union, Il bond, that binds
husband and wife together as one, they
are no longer two. but one as long as
life may last. This mysterious and hal
lowed union, is compared by the Amos
tie st. Paul to the mysterious union of
Christ with his church. This union of
two in one inseparable relation should
not be placed in danger by amy element
Of discord. The church realizes fully
that no differences of opinion between
individuals breed more bitter discord
than conflicting religious opinions. Com
mon sense dictates that a married pair
should agree in matters Of religion If
sweet harmony is to bless the Christian
home. The Catholic church is strongly
opposed to marriages between persons
who are Catholics and those who are
not. Not only should the peace and
harmony Of the married couple be con-
sidered, but also the welfare of the
children that may be born to them must
always be remembered by the church.
The primary end of the institution Of
marriage is the propagation of the hui
man race. The human race, however,
IN the providence Of God. Is destined not
only to be born, to live for a short time
on this earth, and then to die; the hu-
man race must be cared for, both in body
and soul. No being comes into exist
ence so utterly helpless as weeping
babe. 1t must receive the most tender
and affcctionate care, or its feeble spark
of life will never glow into joyous
| flame. Its physical helplesncss. however,
Is type of its mental and moral desti-
tution The frail body must be nolrisil-
ed. but the higher, the nober part of
this weak and dependent child needs
greater and more intelligent care. This
mysterious being comes into tho world,
bearing upon It's immortal soul the i'm
press Of its Creators image This
| thonghtless, helpless. dependent child
OF humanity must be duly fitted, by
proper training for this life and the
| eternal life beyond the grave.
1t is scarcely possible to do Justice to
the needs of the child when the father
and mother cannot agree on the most
elementary principles Of religious and
moral culture. The Catholic mother hc-
lievcs as firmly as she believes in her
own existence. that her darling child has
an immortal soul. and 1t will be re-
warded in heaven or punished In hell
for all eternity. according to Its COM
pliance with, or its rejection OF Gods
laws. The non-Cathoic father may tell
the child that he respects tho honest,
but sadly superstltious, notions Of his
good and pious mother. Tho Catholic
mother will be anxious about her child's
due preparation for the worthy reception
of the sacramcnts, when the age of re-
sponsibility begins. and the passions Of
the human heart begin to assert their
demands. The Catholic mother UNDER
stands, in the light of an intelligent
fa1th, that the sacramcnts are necessary
means of grace, are the powerful aids
to virtue. which Christ has left in his
church The non-Catholic father may
respect his good wifc's devotion and
| a DrI oIv ,t,, No..
life. He does not, however, understand
the meaning Of tho uplifting influences
that give to her virtuous life It's attrac-
tive charm. Tho child noting tho dis
cord between father and mother even
when no open conflict arises, is greatly
In danger of losing that firm and solid
conviction of his accountability to God,
and Of the Importance of religion, that is
essential for successful resistance to the
imperious demand of the passions
The Catholic church sometimes yields
under certain conditions. to tho mar
riage Of one OF it's members to one who
with great reluctance. These conditions
| invariably must be that the religion VI
the Catholic must not be interferel with
and that all the children of such mar
riage must be baptized and educated
in the Catholic faith. II the non-Catho-
lie party is not willing to agree TO these
conditions, the church will not consent
to the marriage, and will never recognize
it, unless the conditions are complied
with.
| A prerequisite to family happiness is
harmony In the Christian home. 1t is
almost impossible to expect genuine har-
mony where serious differences OF re-
| lgion exist Many mixed marriages, It
is true, are most happy and peaceful In
many homes, where there has been
wanting religious harmony, earnest
Catholic faith, and cdifying Catholic
piety have been found. But this Is true
only where the Catholic party has ex-
ertcd extraordinary efforts, and where
the non-Catholic party has surrendered
to Catholic influences. How much more
| easy the duty Of the Catholic party
| might have been done If perfect religious
| harmony nrrvai1nd in tba bc,oo ,rl,o