The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-22
CATHOLIC MARRIAGE
The Views of Non-Catholic on This
Important observation-disclosures it
With Protestant Ceremony.

A non-Catholic newspaper man writ
ing in the Deshler (Ohio) Flag gives
his views on Catholic wedding which
he recently attended, as follows:
For ages there has been consider
able said and written, both in jest
and in all sincerity, about marriage a
failure and yet with all that has
been said and done along this line
marriage in too many instances we
are sorry to say still continues to be
a failure, and perhaps always will be
until some different forms and laws
are adopted in this country making
the marriage vow more sacred and
worthy of reverence.
"A few weeks ago we had the op-
portunfty and the pleasure of attend
ing our first Catholic wedding held
in the Catholic church in this city,
and we were glad that we availed
ourself of this opportunity, as it has
furnished us with the thought for this
article, and if what we have to say
results in one good turn we will be
doubly glad that we witnessed this
ceremony.
upon entering the church, filled
with friends of the contracting par
ties, we noticed that there was an air
of sacredness pervading every nook
and corner of the sanctuary, some
thing that we seldom observe at a
Protestant wedding. When the bridal
couple entered and took their places
at the altar to sweet strains from the
choir, the scene was a subject for an
artist, and one that will require years
to fade from the memory of those who
were present.
while the entire ceremony was
Greek to us'-the ceremony proper,
the Mass and chants all being given
in Latin-yet we realized the sac
redness of the covenant to make it
an obligation to be observed through
life, and we said to ourself: No won
der there are so few divorces among
the Catholics-these people realize
the solemn vows they are taking
"Then we drew a contrast between
the scene before us and the way we
ProCeSCanLS get married.
after a courtship of a day,
week, or perhaps Of only a few
duration, we rush to a min
lister, a mayor or justice Of the peace
presto change! another
man and wife has been ground out to
travel life's rugged path in almost
the twinkling of an eye, giving little
if any thought to the obligations they
were entering into, only to seek the
divorce court in a week or two, while
this Catholic marriage required about
an hour or more.
quite difference.
Something to it, Ell?
, Have you ever noticed what few
divorces there are among the Cath
Ollie people?
There must be something to such
ceremonies that will cause men and
women to dwell happily together 'un-
til death do us part
There is another feature about
Catholic marriage that should not be
overlooked. The admonition, What
God has joined together, let no man
put asunder,' is command that is
highly reverenced by their faith.
I'VE cannot call to mind now that
we ever knew Of case of free love-
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 and
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 Prot
estant religion, for 1--WE regret to
say) the divorce and free love evils
are increasing at an alarming rate
among the people Of the Protestant
faith
I'VE 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 de-
voutness the Catholic faith does?
TT is because our marriage vows
are too meaningless?
sTf "a hnqa1rrn ff4n~y nwn So @ws~.~T