Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-17
PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE
THEME OF REV. T. E. McGUIGAN
SUNDAY EVENING.
Choice of Life Partner Regarded as
of as Much Importance as Sc
Letting Vocation.

Discussing preparations for Marriage
at the vesper service at ST. Patrick's
Church Sunday. Rev. T. F. Michigan
impressed his auditors with the obliga-
tons of engagements and advised that
courtships and engagements be short
ut Is injustice to each other to stand
in the way of possible advantageous
marriage and selfish to delay the re-
spor sibilities of married 1ife'' he declared.
Father Michigan declared that the
choice of a life partner is as important
as the choice of vocation and that
preparation for married life is much
more important than preparation for
LIES vocation ITO contemplate mar
riagc is to consider bargaining in human
lives. in human souls and bodies in hu
man hearts, loves, happiness. in human
interest; of time and eternity" he de-
claIed.
Turning to the feeling between two
persons which is the proper basis for
marriage he said:
''Unrestrained sentiment and unreason-
ing love are unstable: they are but quick
sands upon which to build the hopes of
two young lives. soon to topple down
in ruin indescribable. Love is indeed the
power that attracts and draws and YIELDS
in union two hearts; 1t Is love implant-
ed by God in the human breast and con-
secrated and made holy by Jesus Christ
1t is a love controlled and directed by
a Christian conscience: a love tempered
by wisdom and unselfish in aim pure in
intention. 1t Is a love that cheriSheS
maiden modesty and manly honor. 1t
is love that discriminates between the
solid virtues of an upright character and
outward form and effectiveness. desira-
BILE ana admirable. but oftentmes de-
ceptive. 1t is love that prudently
weighs the agreements and disagree
hts Of disposition. age. position. and
can calmly note the favor of the balance.
Senseless Attachment
1T is we'll, 1 know, and l deeply la
ment that 1 am not detailing the worlds
estimate of love affairs. Needless in
fatuation and scnseless attachment ex-
press the worlds idea of love, and too
newly defined. despicable term-affinity."
Turning next to consideration of en-
gagements. he said:
Two young people, high in ideal. Chris
tan in motive, can soon discover the
value and worth of the attachment that
has sprung up and safely Judge the need
lessness of protracted courtship The
most precious years are often spent in
prolonged company keeping, when the
parties could seriously settle their minds
within moderate time. II is injustice
to each other thus to stand in the way
Of possible advantageous marriage and
selfish to delay the responsibilities of
married life
Once. then, an engage ment is entered
upon. once a mutual promise of future
marriage between persons suited to marry
has been made. the date of the marriage
should not be far distant The question
OF choice is settled. the immediate prepa-
ration Tor marriage begins.
IAN engagement imposes serious obli
cations upon the parties who freely
plight to each other love and fidelity
with view to future marriage. AS
therefore such engagement should not
be lightly. hastily frivolously con-
tracted. neither may it be wantonly and
unreasonably broken without grave sim
In conclusion. he pointed out that when
a solemn engagement has been contracted
in writing. in the presence of the parish
priest and two witnesses. a marriage to
Il third party of either of the other two
is null and void In the eyes of the
church.