Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-06
~rhe solemniuation of Matrimony.v

| (From the Monumental Messenger)
The Catholics put marriage among the
| sacraments OF the Church OF Christ st
paul pronounces II great mystery.
The Prayer Book speaks of 1t as Holy
Estate" And the form of entering into
that Holy Estate is called "The Sol
emnzation Of Matrimony."
| Whether or not II be accurate and
orthodox to hold marriage as a sacra-
ment may be left to Theologians and
| Controversialsts TO determine: But as
We set down the ceremony as an en-
trance to a Holy Estate" and the
Apostle call It a great mystery" we
NAV, about as well. let those who term
1t a sacrament have their way; only 1t
is odd that their priesthood avoid the
| sacrament
Our liturgy in using the words THE
| Solemnization OF Matrimony" means TO
make the ceremony solemn and sacred.
1t is not to be entered into unadvisedly
or lightly. but reverently, discreetly. ad-
visedly, soberly, and in the fear Of God.
The Book OF Tobit is good reading In
| this connection.
The first record of human history Is
| the marriage OF our first parents by the
| Great Creator. All the Sons of God,
shouting for joy, sang the Epithalamium.
The Grand Consummation is the mar
riage feast Of the Lamb. The last call
to the Son of Man in glory is: THE
Church and the bride say GOMEZ
| The words that tell of mans creation
are: SO God created man in His own
| image, in the image of God created He
him: Male and female created He them.
The creation OF man was the last and
most glorious of the works Of God. And
the beautiful pair were complete IN one
another. Man wac strangely made up OF
pairs; Of eyes, elrs, hands, feet, and
throughout his structure: and he, himself
is but one of pair: not made to be alone:
utterly incomplete by himself. SO 1t is
not surprising that the ceremony that
completes his being, should by some be
called in sacrament a most high, holy,
and mysterious conservation of the one
to the other of Gods appointment-and
by others known as the solemnization
OF matrimOny." 1t Is a Holy Estate"
TO live the life that God has ordained.
All throughout Scripture. marriage is
treated as the contamination devouty
to be wished and the very emblem and
figure and promise Of Heaven. The en-
trance Of the redeemed into the Holy
Estate OF Heaven is represented as a
marriage feast: And the New Jerusalem
descends from Heaven as a bride adorn-
ed for her husband
The elevation Of woman IS as positive
ly a purpose OF the Holy Scripture as the
redemption of man and his restoration TO
the love and worship of God. They are
mutually supplementary. The virtues
and powers Of the one and the graces
and gentlenesses of the other make up
the Royal Robe OF righteousness of
Man-made after the image of God.
It is an office worthy of our liturgy
to solemniZe matrimOny--to impress its
high dignity and responsibillty-and an
nounce the divine blessings that belong
to 1t as a Holy Estate.
A happy marriage a pious and loving
household. a Heaven-blest home are
after the image Of Heaven. An ill-assort-
ed couple and a roof under which pride.
selfshness and irreligion, the world, the
flesh. and the devil. prevail, are quite the
reverse. The worldly and unloving
mother has her part in Great Babylon:
And the selfish and ambitious husband
may well stand for the Prince Of dark
ness.
A cultivation OF the virtues and graces
that are necessary to a happy home are
quite on the way to Heaven. The solemn
ization OF matrimony in the minds and
hearts Of all men and women is a very
practical way OF making Heaven on
earth. Just as the rainbow is a testi-
mony TO Gods loving kindness, so Is the
religious and happy home the witness of
his presence. In the well-ordered house
hold the father is the representative OF
Cod the mother of the Church; and the
offspring are children Of the Kingdom
And the prayer that our Lord has given
to His people is: Our Father, and hallow-
ed be Thy name And as the name and
character Of God are TO be hallowed, so
is the word and name of father. Our
Lord did in giving His prayer solemnize
matrimony-fatherhood and motherhood