The Irish standard., 1907-12-07

sent. The Church wishes to participate
In this ceremony In the least possible
degree, and the priest assists only % .
sad and silent witness.
But why. then, does the Church disc
play such severity? It IL because she
fully understands tho deplorabls con.
sequences of mixed marriages; it il
because she regards them as detrimen.
tai to the domestic happiness and to
the eternal salvation of both parents
and children. 49,.
Danger to Faith,
For marriage by It's very nature es.
tablishes between husband and wife
the most intimate relations. According
to the words of Holy Writ, it unites
them in such a way that they "are but
one." Now what intimacy can there
exist between two beings who have
neither the same ideas nor the same
feelings on the Fundamental questions
of religion-who never pray together,
who go to different churches, who have
contradictory practices even in sick
ness and In death? In such houses
hold, by common agreement absolute
silence is kept on everything which 10
connected with the teachings or dis.
cipline of the Church; and then re-
ligious indifference, with its pernicious
influence, will soon pervade the home
or there will arise endless discussions
and troublesome controversies out Of
which Catholic faith will not always
issue victorious. That faith, at first so
strong and firm, will run great risks
Of becoming gradually weaker, and per.
haps will end in a complete wreck.
Statistics gathered on this subject In
other countries rather than In our owA
reveal to us the most painful defec.
tions. Nay, do we not see In our midst
a repetition Of what has happened else.
where? Besides, one must not forget
that mixed unions bring about social
intercourse and give rise, on many oc.
casions, to extremely delicate situa-.
tions. Thus in many cases will not the
Catholic wife, through human respect
or desire to please, weakly sacrifice
the principles and practices Of her re-
ligion?
Tho Children.
But this is not all. There are the
children, and it is for the children,
above all, that the Church is partiou-.
larly anxious; 1t is concerning them
that her motherly solicitude is justly
alarmed. @
Undoubtedly she lays down as an es.
sential condition Of the dispensations
mixed marriage must be baptized
and educated in the Catholic religion.
The nom Catholic party solennly makes
the required promise, but Is this prom
ise always kept? Alas! numerous facts
oblige US to answer in the negative,
and it is not necessary to seek very
eyes around us. 1t is misfortune we
cannot too loudly deplore.
! Have we not often heard the express
sion Of this idea or the proposal of this
strange compromise-that the daugh-
ters will practice their mothers re-
ligion, but the sons must adhere to
their fathers belief? What an incon-
ceivable error! AS If there were two
Gospels. two creeds, two churches, ac.s
cording to the sex of the children. Lot
us bear in mind that this idea Is In
herent among many non Catholics. and
no matter what promises are made on
the occasion of the marriage, We can
easily apprehend disastrous conse-
quences.
: Now let US suppose even the greatest
goodwill on the one side and on the
other the energetic determination to be
faithful to all sacred duties. the educa-
ton of the children is nevertheless
much exposed. For the success Of this
work, so difficult and 50 delicate, the.