To the Newly-Weds

^{Originally published in The Way on June 14, 1941.}

Originally published in The Way on June 14, 1941.How wonderful it is that the Month of the Bride should come right after the Month of Mary, the Month of Mother. How wonderful it is that this should come while in our minds we still have a vivid picture of the tribute paid to Mary, the tribute paid to all mothers, who at one time were brides, brides just like the prospective June brides.

Yes, our mothers were once brides, but were they like so many of our modern brides. Our mothers became brides well realizing the responsibility facing them and accepting this responsibility. Many of the brides of the present day enter marriage with full knowledge of the responsibilities of this Sacrament, but also with full determination to shirk these responsibilities. To many of the modern brides marriage means just “a good time.”

It has long been said that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Today the cradles are fast diminishing. At the present rate of diminishing cradles the world will soon degenerate.

God might, had he so willed, have increased and multiplied living creatures directly, without the intermediary of parents. But instead, he chose to devise love. Two beings, who do not know each other, meet one day, and discover that there is a certain affinity between them, a reciprocal sympathy or attraction. If there is no obstacle, these two are united in the Sacrament of Marriage and become capable of multiplying life. God deigns to use them as an instrument.

Since marriage brings with it a heavy responsibility — that of providing for the needs of the family — God in his goodness has annexed to it a certain pleasure. Now, due order demands that pleasures and responsibilities should not be separated. Hence, voluntarily to seek the pleasure, and at the same time to run counter to those responsibilities, is to oppose God's plan; and since the matter is a grave one (that of the production of a living being) it must always be in itself a grave sin.

Meditate on this plan of divine Providence; admire it, respect it. Never allow anyone in your presence to insult this wonderful device: love. Do not insult it yourself. Do not misuse it. If you are planning a wedding, you should always look forward to a christening.