Vibrant marriages are inspiring examples of selfless love

by Libby DuPont

This past week was important. Of course, there was football, but according to the website thereisadayforthat.com, the week also celebrated numerous things including fettuccine alfredo, umbrellas, Boy Scouts, lost pennies and not crying over spilled milk. Though comprehensive, I noticed one omission on that website’s list: National Marriage Week.

If you are not married, it can be easy to treat National Marriage Week as a preschooler might regard National Home Warranty Day. But here are a few reasons that marriage is worth celebrating . . . for the whole church.

1. Joyful marriages teach us about God. The Bible is filled with bridal imagery for a reason: It effectively communicates Christ’s love for the church. Vibrant marriages show us that God doesn’t just put up with us. He is passionately in love with us, inviting us to become one with him in the Eucharist. His love is forgiving, sacrificial, faithful and life-giving. A couple in love gives us a living example of these important truths.

2. Sacramental marriages are at the service of the church. Like holy orders, the sacrament of matrimony is a vocational sacrament, which means it is a path to holiness for the recipients, but it is also at the service of the body of Christ. Married couples bring the presence of Jesus to their families, workplaces and to many other people who might not otherwise encounter him.

3. The goodness of marriage validates the pain of loss. Sometimes, people protest the celebration of marriage out of concern for those who have suffered domestic violence, divorce or the death of a spouse. I propose that clearly articulating the church’s vision of marriage is an act of compassion for those who are hurting. An understanding of the goodness and beauty of what marriage is intended to be can provide a backdrop for why its absence is so painful, and can be an invitation to healing and hope for the future.

No matter what your state in life is, I invite you to do something this week to strengthen marriage in the church. If you’re married, invest in your own sacrament. If you’re not, consider deepening your understanding of matrimony and praying for an increase in vocations to strong, joyful marriages. For great online resources, go to: foryourmarriage.org.