The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-01-11
CATHOLIC MARRIAGE
Made Deep Impression on Mind of q
Protestant.

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Flag recently attended q Catholic
marriage. Here is his impression of
its dignity:
For ages there has been consider
able said and written, both in jest
and in all sincerity, about marriage
failure and vet, With all that has
been said and done along this line,
marriage, in too many instances, we
I, are sorry to say. still continues to be
q failure, and perhaps always will he
until some different forms and laws
are adopted in this country making
the marriage VOW more sacred and
worthy of reverence,
"A rev weeks ago VIC had the oppor-
UNITY and the pleasure Of attending
cur first Catholic wedding held in the
catholic church in this city. and we
We're glad that VIC awaited oursclf of
THIS opportunity. as it has furnished us
with the thought for this article. and
1t what we have to say results in one
good turn we will be doubly glad that
we witnessed this ceremony.
Upon entering tho church, filled
with friends of the contracting par-
ties. We noticed that there was an air
Of sacredncss. pcrvadins every nook
and corner of the sanctuary, some-
thing that we seldom observe at a
Frotestant wedding. When the bridal
couple entered and took their places
at the altar to the sweet strains from
the choir orchestra, the scene WAS T.
subject for an artist, and one that
Will require Years 10 fade from the
; memory of those who were present
While the entire ceremony was
Greek to us the Mass and chants
All being given in Latin, yet we real
lied that there was enough in it to
impress the sacredncss of the coven-
ant To make it an obligation to be
observed through life. and we said to
ourself, NO wonder there are SO few
divorces among the Catholics-thcse
people realize the solemn vows they
are taking" H.
Then We drew Il contrast between
the scene before lis and the day we
;sProtestants get married.
-Aftcr q courtship Of Il day. a week,
on perhaps of only q few months dur
alton, we rush TO minister, a mayor
or justice of the peace. and flip, presto,
change! Another man and wife have
been ground out to travel life's rugged
path in almost the twinlling of m
eye, giving little, if any. thought to the
obligations they We're entering into.
while this Catholic marriage required
ABOUT an houIor more.
l. Quite za:lditfsre1ee. ;,!4!gs
Something to tit eh ..
There must, he something to such
ceremonies that will cause men and
women to dwell happily together "un-
til death do lis part
Binding.
There is another feature about a
Catholic marriage that should not be
overlooked The -admonition, What
God has joined together, let no man
put asunder.' is a command that is
highly revercnced by their faith.
We cannot call to mind now that
we ever knew OF case OF free love"
among the Catholics. and. we have
covered considerable territory during
our existence.
While we sat there in the church
watching, to us, the Very impressive
ceremony. the question came to us, 'If
this ceremony will cause men ana
women to live together until parted By
death; if the Catholic faith will cause
man and wife to be honest and true
to each other, then. in the name of
God, what is wrong with our Protest
ant religion for Owe regret to say the
divorce and free love evils are increas-
ing at an alarming rate among the
people of the Protestant faith"
We are glad to present. these
thoughts to our readers, especially
those of the Protestant belief, and
ask them wherein are We wrong:
Why does not, our religion bind men
and women together with that same
dcvoutness the Catholic faith does?
Is it because our marriage vows are
too meaningless?
Is it because they are so frivolous
that they are worthy of no considera-
tio:l-only a. joke. as it We're?
If these be true let steps be taken
tc right the wrong at once. Give us
more Catholic marriages-marriages
that will cause men and women to
dwell together in union as God in
tended them to.
Then, and not until then, will we
have better world.
Gaelic in Ulster.