Juntos en el camino: Palabras semanales del Arzobispo Hebda
I was blessed this past weekend to attend the final profession of Sr. Teresa Rose, a Handmaid of the Heart of Jesus, in New Ulm. So many of those who attended shared how moved they were by the rite itself, by Sister’s joy – by the bond shared by the sisters in her community, present in such great number that morning – and by God’s goodness in calling each of us to build up his Church according to our own vocation.
The complementarity of our vocations was palpable that morning. Holy Trinity Cathedral was filled with a surprising number of young families, with more than the usual share of infants and toddlers in attendance. I was happy to see a good number of young priests as well in attendance and also some of the lay missionaries serving in campus ministry at the University of Minnesota. I’m convinced that when we witness any vocation lived out well, we’re inspired to give our best to the Lord too.
While I was in New Ulm, Bishop Izen was in our own cathedral celebrating the annual Marriage Day Mass, with about 215 couples that came together to recall their own vows. Those celebrating silver and golden anniversaries were honored in a special way, and couples of all ages – along with their families – bore witness to the beauty of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
The whole Church joins these couples in this celebration to affirm that marriage is much more than a simple contract or legal relationship. In our Catholic perspective, it’s one of the seven sacraments, the outward signs instituted by Christ to impart grace. It’s unique in our tradition, however, being that the sacrament is not “celebrated” by an ordained minister of the Church (bishop, priest, or deacon) but rather by the bride and groom themselves, ordinarily in the presence of a minister of the Church. It’s their action of giving themselves to one another that conveys the grace of the sacrament, grace that will lead them into a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church, strengthening them to form the family that God intends for them.
While we can identify the wedding ceremony as the moment when the sacrament is celebrated, the marital commitment to sacrificial love is actually something that extends over a lifetime. My siblings and I always give thanks to God for the example that we were given by the enduring love that our parents had for one another. It was in their love for one another, “through sickness and in health, through good times and in bad,” that our parents found the strength to love God and neighbor. It was that love, moreover, that gave us a glimpse of just how deeply Christ, the Bridegroom, loves his Bride, the Church.
Regardless of our individual vocations, we all benefit from having an insight into the depth of Christ’s love for his Church. It’s what gives us the confidence to say “yes” to his call, whatever it may be.
In 2024, weddings are a little more common than professions or ordinations. Indeed, as any pastor will tell you, these next few months are “wedding season.” If you are blessed to attend a wedding this summer, I invite you to reflect on the beauty of the sacrament. Pray not only for those couples who are giving themselves to one another in marriage, but also for the young couples who are discerning that vocation. Please join me as well in praying for those who have already begun their married lives, that they will be blessed with the grace and strength to live out their vows in a way that is lifegiving for them, for their families, and for the Church.
