Good afternoon and welcome! It is a joyous occasion for all of us today as we come together to witness Eric and Catherine stand before our Lord Jesus Christ, in the midst of his Church, and enter into a covenant of love with God and each other, receive the graces that flow from the Sacrament of Marriage, and embark on a lifelong journey as husband and wife, guided by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus tells us in the Gospel passage, Eric and Catherine “are no longer two but one flesh.”
Eric and Catherine, Christ speaks these words of encouragement to you both, saying: “what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” At this moment, I invite you both to turn around and look at your family and friends, in particular your parents and sponsors. Let their witness of marital love inspire you to be the best version of yourselves for each other. Family and friends, thank you for your care and kindness toward Eric & Catherine. I ask you all to always speak words of encouragement to this beautiful couple and to always let your actions toward them be ones of loving support.
More importantly, Eric and Catherine, God joins you together today, you must not separate. Marriage is a sacrament of service because, as husband and wife, you are called to love each other by serving one another selflessly and sacrificially, to will the good for one another, to wake up every morning committing yourselves to your marriage and family come what may. Some days will be more challenging than others, no doubt about it. However, God permits you to experience not only the joys of married and family life but also go through the challenges of marriage to expand the capacity of your hearts to love each other even more. In those challenging times, I encourage you to hold each other close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and know in your hearts that God is always close to you, cheering you on in your marriage. Remember also that precious moment on your wedding day when you held each other’s hands, looked into each other’s eyes, and exchanged your vows of love and fidelity for one another.
Eric and Catherine, in a few moments from now, you will exchange wedding rings that symbolize the endless love that you have for each other in the unbreakable bond of marriage. Every time you look at your wedding ring, as I do every day, hold on to this truth in your hearts. Eric, know that you are a worthy husband and you found in Catherine a worthy wife whose “value is far beyond pearls.” Same with you, Catherine, every time you look at your wedding ring, know that you are a worthy wife and you found in Eric a worthy husband whose “value is far beyond pearls.” Entrust your hearts to each other. Above all, entrust your hearts to God and you will come to realize that you both are worthy husband and wife for each other precisely because of your fear of the Lord.
In marriage class, I challenge you both to go to Mass together and to pray together and pray for each other. I am proud of you because you are doing all these things on your wedding day. Keep it up in your married life together because, when you keep our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the center of your marriage, he will help you to be “one flesh.” God will teach you to be patient and kind with each other. He will help you not be jealous nor pompous, not be inflated nor rude, not to seek your own interests nor be quick-tempered, not to brood over injury nor rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoice in the truth of His love for you and your love for Him and for each other. God will help you bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things in your marriage. God will never fail you and, if you cooperate with Him, as I know in my heart that you both will, He will never let you fail each other. Amen.
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