The Beauty of Marriage
He stood on principle. He defended the Church. He refused to act against his conscience. He was stalwart in defense of marriage. And in 1535, the king chopped off his head.
Saint Thomas More, whose Feast Day we celebrated on July 6, was an ardent defender of the institution of marriage. Among the most admirable yet oft-overlooked qualities of Sir Thomas were his fidelity and love of his family; he was a true model of fatherly virtues. He loved his bride and he loved his children, and had a special place in his heart for his daughter, Margaret. He was a father in the fullest sense of the word, leading his family into deeper relationship with God the Father through a life of prayer, penance, and virtue. He was a man who understood the beauty of marriage.
The summer months are often filled with weddings, and anniversaries. Many dioceses and parishes across our nation this summer will celebrate anniversary Masses for couples who are marking 25 or 50 years together. With the exception of such moments, marriage is rarely spoken of with words of praise. It is more commonly made light of or derided as an outdated burden.
Consider an old “Close to Home” comic strip that shows a couple getting into a channel boat that is to traverse the proverbial “tunnel of love”—a classic romantic scene. The inscription above the tunnel reads “Tunnel of Love, then disillusionment, then mundane humdrum coexistence.” The young man, upon seeing the sign, clearly is not so sure he wants to climb aboard.
Can you blame him? Marriage is spoken of with such derision today that we can’t be surprised more aren’t prepared to make the commitment, and are instead choosing cohabitation at skyrocketing rates.
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Read more: www.crisismagazine.com
Saint Thomas More, whose Feast Day we celebrated on July 6, was an ardent defender of the institution of marriage. Among the most admirable yet oft-overlooked qualities of Sir Thomas were his fidelity and love of his family; he was a true model of fatherly virtues. He loved his bride and he loved his children, and had a special place in his heart for his daughter, Margaret. He was a father in the fullest sense of the word, leading his family into deeper relationship with God the Father through a life of prayer, penance, and virtue. He was a man who understood the beauty of marriage.
The summer months are often filled with weddings, and anniversaries. Many dioceses and parishes across our nation this summer will celebrate anniversary Masses for couples who are marking 25 or 50 years together. With the exception of such moments, marriage is rarely spoken of with words of praise. It is more commonly made light of or derided as an outdated burden.
Consider an old “Close to Home” comic strip that shows a couple getting into a channel boat that is to traverse the proverbial “tunnel of love”—a classic romantic scene. The inscription above the tunnel reads “Tunnel of Love, then disillusionment, then mundane humdrum coexistence.” The young man, upon seeing the sign, clearly is not so sure he wants to climb aboard.
Can you blame him? Marriage is spoken of with such derision today that we can’t be surprised more aren’t prepared to make the commitment, and are instead choosing cohabitation at skyrocketing rates.
.............
Read more: www.crisismagazine.com
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