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Jenny
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| Posted: April 30 2006 at 9:41am | IP Logged
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We went to friends wedding yesterday. She is VERY, non-denominational; which, isn't that a denomination in itself? Anyway. It was a beautiful wedding even though it was pouring outside & this was taking place at her Aunts house, on the front porch  So they moved the nuptials inside the arched foyer.
The preacher was speaking about God's delight in marriage and that marriage is so holy that the scriptures can only compare it to Christ's love for the Church. I thought, "He gets it!" At any moment, this man is going to use the word "Sacrament". But instead, he asked everyone bow their heads & if they didn't know if they were saved or not, to recite this prayer with him asking Jesus to come into their hearts.
I know my friend & her husband realize the honor and importance and even holiness of marriage, but they are lacking the fullness of the graces that come through the sacrament of marriage. And then, when they have children, the graces received from the sacrament of baptism. I just want to tell them, "Hey, you're doing this the hard way." But, sometimes aren't we all? Sometimes, even we miss some of those graces due to hardened hearts.
Just a ramble...
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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mathmama
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| Posted: April 30 2006 at 6:28pm | IP Logged
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I feel bad when I hear of people getting married who are unaware of the graces available to them. I fondly remember the graces I received after my marriage. It was like I was a new woman. I had never been so patient and selfless in my life.
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abcmommy
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| Posted: May 01 2006 at 5:56pm | IP Logged
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I know that Catholics view marriage slightly differently than non denominational people or prot.s, but I dont consider other christian marriages lacking in grace. Maybe I just do not know enough to "know" but it seems to me that christians who are married by their ministers are embraced by a loving God no differently than catholics who are married by a priest.
Most of the protestants I know do choose infant baptism also, but I dont know if it is a sacrament. These are interesting things to consider.
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momwise
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| Posted: May 01 2006 at 10:27pm | IP Logged
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Jenny,
I know what you mean; I often feel the same way at many protestant events. There is a stark difference between a Funeral Mass and a funeral that always leaves me feeling everyone's missing something very important.
I'm going to a protestant cousin's wedding in June but the invitation says the "Sacrament of Marriage." So I guess they are in a mainline denomination (like Lutheran) that recognizes marriage as a sacrament. I don't think most protestants are in mainline denominations though; they are more likely Evangelicals or Fundamentalists. These would not baptize babies either (the farther you get from the tree, the less fruit I guess).
Unbaptized people can't receive any sacrament, including marriage. While baptized Christian marriages are valid in the eyes of the Church I don't think Sacramental graces are assumed where the parties don't believe marriage is a sacrament.
OTOH, we know baptism does have an effect, even in those who don't believe in regeneration. Who knows more about this?
Your statement about feeling they are doing it the hard way is so true--it is hard to imagine marriage and family life without the graces of the Eucharist and Confession! I would so love my protestant couple friends to have all this help for their families.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Karen E.
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| Posted: May 02 2006 at 2:06pm | IP Logged
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momwise wrote:
Unbaptized people can't receive any sacrament, including marriage. While baptized Christian marriages are valid in the eyes of the Church I don't think Sacramental graces are assumed where the parties don't believe marriage is a sacrament.
OTOH, we know baptism does have an effect, even in those who don't believe in regeneration. Who knows more about this? |
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Yes, it is a sacramental marriage, whether they know it or call it that or not.  If two validly baptized Christians marry, it's a sacrament, even if they are Protestants who do not recognize it as such.
When I got married, I was unbaptized, and my husband had been baptized a Lutheran. I was later baptized in a Protestant church. A few years later when I was preparing to be received into the Catholic Church, my "marriage situation" was thoroughly looked into. Canon law says that at the moment I was baptized, our marriage became a sacramental marriage with all the attendant graces.
Of course, things are usually better when we're aware of and want to cooperate with those graces ....
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: May 02 2006 at 6:01pm | IP Logged
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abcmommy wrote:
Most of the protestants I know do choose infant baptism also, but I dont know if it is a sacrament.
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It is as long as it's done properly (i.e., with water and in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
Most Protestant denominations that have infant baptism do consider it a sacrament.
I was baptized in the Methodist church as a baby and it was considered a valid baptism when I later became Catholic.
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Marriage, The Hard Way
