WORLD MARRIAGE DAY AND THE SACRAMENT OF LOVE..........

Like many, if not most of you reading my blog, I was fortunate to be born and raised in a family where my parents and grandparents were married until parting at death. My parents Josephine Virginia, and Troy Doil, were married for more than 32 years when my mother died in 1982, at age 60. My maternal grandparents, Manuel Lawrence, and Claudia Frances, were married for 71 years, when my grandfather died at age 95, in 1986. In each instance, they weathered the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the successes and the struggles, of love, marriage, and family life, as "Mom" Corey said on their 70th Anniversary, "because love conquers all things"...
This weekend we affirm the unconditional love of Catholic-Christian Marriage in the celebration of World Marriage Day. The dignity and primacy of Marriage in Christian Marriage is elevated in the Community of Believers to be included among the Seven Sacraments of the Church. For Catholic-Christians Marriage is entered into as a Covenant relationship between God and the spouses, an unbreakable bond of pure love that is, Unitive and Creative. Catholic-Christianity teaches that, "what God joins together, no one must divide". The Sacrament of Marriage is intended to bond husbands and wives together for life. How that is and can be achieved in a society where temporary commitments and disposable relationships are increasingly prevalent requires that couples choosing to be wed, be fully prepared to accept the obligations and responsibilities of Christian Marriage. I believe as a priest who has officiated at 151 marriages, and assisted with the preparation of hundreds more, that a great degree of maturity and life experience must first be attained by persons seeking to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage. In my experience that translates to women and men in their mid twenties or older, to know themselves, their intended spouse, and the seriousness of the covenant relationship commitment they are entering in Christian Marriage. A solid foundation of faith, education, work, dating, and love, and family life, are indispensable components of a successful and lasting Catholic-Christian marriage. A quality Marriage Preparation course, which in the Sacramento Diocese includes, 'Evenings for the Engaged', 'Engaged Encounter', and 'Pre-Cana' conferences. I strongly recommend the Evenings for the Engaged and Engaged Encounter experiences, for their effectiveness in making the marriage preparation more than a condensed, one day, requirement filler. And to that extent, I meet an additional number of times with those couples I am preparing, to unpack the teaching they receive with those who do the Pre Cana conference, so as to maximize their understanding of the information they receive. I also share with my couples a copy of Rev. Fr. Joseph Champlin's bestselling book of forty years, "Together For Life", to supplement their marriage preparation and assist them in planning their Wedding celebration. As we mark this World Marriage Day weekend, Bishop Jaime Soto will be presiding at the 5 pm Mass in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacramento, tonight, Sat. Feb. 6, at which he will renew vows with couples married 10, 25, 50 years.....Whatever the number of years of your sacramental marriage, or the sacramental marriage you are preparing for, may the Grace, Peace, Love, and Covenant of Jesus Christ, be with you all your days..........May You Be Together For Life In The Bond Of Pure And Unconditional LOVE, Fr. Troy