The Irish standard., 1905-09-02
NuPr1AI HIGH MASS.
Sensible Remarks on the Publicity
That Attends Catholic Marriage.

lndt AttenoS Catnollc Marriage.
"a young lady who was married
with Nuptial High Mass has been cri,i-
cised by some Of the girls in the par
ish as showing Off and making
fuss and that it would be more mod
est if she had secured less publicity.
Give us your views
In answer to- the above, the Rev.
John Price writes as follows in the
Pittsburg Observer:
The faults found with the young
bride are as alleged, l Showing off,"
making a fuss 3 too boldly public
in her wedding. Such critics are
wicked]y and scandalously wrong
Now, answer: Did the Church legis-
late the nuptial ceremonies and the
beautiful wedding mass for the pur-
| pose of vain ponlp and worldly glorif-
cation? Certainly not. All the cere.
monies that have been instituted by
Gods Church to be employed in the
administration Of His holy sacraments
| are intended to excite veneration and
| reverence for them and to explain
| their spiritual or gracious effects.
Matrimony is sacrament as we'll as
contract. It's holiness needs to be en-
phasized by sacred ceremonies, other.
wise it would likely be popularity re-
garded as secular affair.
! 2. The expression making a fuss"
is purely contemptuous. Solemniza-
tion of marriage lifts the whole matter
into holy and supernatural sphere.
Everything that goes to the solemniza-
tion of wedlock is consequently elevat-
ing and full of usefulness and signifi-
cation. If anything of the nature of
fuss" is found associated with cases
of wedlock it is the foolish customs G
worldly origin that are practiced with
out the Church's wish or sanction
| profusion of plants and flowers, show
ering rice on the bride or throwing
old shoes after them, and pagan seren-
AIDES, drinking bouts and dances
These things degrade the occasion.
g. The publicity that attends Cath
olic marriage is entirely fitting. The
welded pair are to live in society an
be given full rights to it. When a king
is crowned, a president inaugurated, a
doctor given his diploma, or a gradu-
ate of college his degrees, there is al
ways accorded the ceremonies the full
est publicity. BY the proclamation of
the banns, and the nuptial mass an
ample and necessary publicity is made.
Besides, there is nothing dishonorable
in marriage that it should have clan
destinity of any sort. Society suspects
where concealment obtains, every Or
ganization of men holds limitations in
the presence of it's membership as a
welcome to those who come into it
and to receive the congratulations
of the body A public celebration of
a Catholic marriage secures these ad-
vantages and more, secures, also, the
prayers and blessings of a community.
If society favored clandestine we'd
locks, the way would be open to unions
that ought never to have been con-
tracted and the morals Of a commun-
ity might suffer in thousand ways.
The state looks to this pu;,licity in it's
license laws, court records and bu-
reaus of health regulations. If the
state is justified in it's surveillance,
who can find fault with the Church
for it's solicitude? Those who con-
denim the benedictions and ceremonies
of the Church in reference to matri-
mony are anthematized by the Church.