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Photo reblogged from Catholic Feminine Genius
Married on a Crucifix
Fr Michael Mullan, LCImagine a world without divorce. Imagine families without separation. Imagine no children or hearts torn apart.
People of one place in this world do not have to imagine.
In the town of Siroki-Brijeg in Herzegovina not one of the 13,000 inhabitants can recall a single divorce or broken family.
What is their secret? One look at their marriage rite says it all.
When the bride and bridegroom go to the church to be married they carry a crucifix with them. The priest blesses the crucifix and exclaims, “You have found your cross! It is a cross to love, to carry with you, a cross that is not thrown off but rather treasured.”
When they interchange the marital vows, the bride puts her right hand on this crucifix and the groom puts his right hand over hers. Both are united to the cross. The priest covers their hands with his stole while they pronounce their promises to love each other in good times and in bad.
Then they both first kiss the cross, not each other. If one abandons the other, they abandon Christ on the cross.
Afterwards, the newly-weds cross the threshold of their home to enthrone that same crucifix in a place of honour. It becomes the reference point of their lives and the place of family prayer.
In times of difficulty and misunderstandings, as all human relationships experience, they do not turn immediately to the lawyer or psychologist, they turn to the cross. They kneel, cry and open up their hearts begging for the strength to pardon and implore the Lord’s help.
The children are taught to reverently kiss the crucifix daily and to thank God for the day before going to bed. These children dream of enthroning one day a crucifix of their own.
The family is indissolubly united to the cross of Christ. Is this simply a morbid outlook on marital and family life? Or is it a piece of wisdom that few in our modern world can understand. Until our world does, it will continue to imagine and long for the unbroken hearth.
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“The Sacrament of marriage comes as do all the sacraments from the wounded side of Christ as He lay ‘asleep’ in death, when Christ was pierced by a sword and blood and water and the Holy Spirit flowed out. At that moment the Church and all the sacraments came from the side of Christ as Eve was taken from the side of Adam. The Church is the Bride of Christ and the Catholic marriage is to be a living example of Christ and His Bride the Church. If the Catholic couple lives in a state of grace and has the sacrament of marriage they receive constant grace from God to love one another with the very LOVE of God. It is the vocation of the spouses to sanctify one another and be open to new life. According to Archbishop Sheen it takes 3 to get married: husband, wife and Christ. Marriage works in Christ.”
—my friend Kathleen AnnBeautiful.
Relevant.
Note to self: find a crucifix.
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It’s time for us to defend our faith.
Test of Fire: Election 2012 (Official HD Version - Catholic) (by creativelab7)
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AJ Rafael & Cathy Nguyen - Wedding Dedication: Set Me As A Seal (by ilajil)
waaaaaaah
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This week’s list of intentions for the holy family to pray for #catholic #holyfamily #prayers (Taken with instagram)
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Quote reblogged from Catholic Answers
Never settle for less than the spiritual and moral grandeur which, by grace, can be yours. They are your baptismal birthright as a Christian.
You will fail. You will stumble on the ladder of love, and you will fall. That’s no reason to lower the bar of expectation. That’s a reason to get up, dust yourself off, seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and try again. If you settle for anything less than the greatness for which you were made- the greatness that became your destiny at baptism- you are cheating yourself. If you settle for anything less than the greatness that has been made possible for you by Christ, you’re ignoring the twitch of the divine weaver on the thread of your life. Let His grace lift you up to where, in your heart of hearts, you want to be.
George Weigel, Letters to a Young Catholic (via askthecatholic) -
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)
If you’ve ever watched a scary movie, you know how easy it is to let frightening images get stuck in your imagination. A movie, with its special effects and dramatic music, can make you forget you’re in the safety of your living room. Suddenly, you’re transported to a dangerous and scary place where everything seems malevolent.
The example may sound trite, but spiritually, there are always things in our lives that can loom over us and make us forget the reality of who we are as God’s children. Jesus tells us that being at peace is a choice—we should not let our hearts be troubled. He warned his disciples that he was going away, and then said if they loved him, they “would rejoice” that he was going (John 14:28). Jesus didn’t tell his disciples that they wouldn’t confront frightening situations, but he exhorted them not to allow their circumstances to dictate whether or not they were at peace.
When we focus only on our circumstances, we risk losing sight of the truth. But that doesn’t have to be our fate. We can allow ourselves to be swept away in worry or anxiety—or we can hold on for dear life to the surpassing reality of who God is. He made the universe; he loves us and sent Jesus to redeem us; we are his children, held in the palm of his hand; he will never abandon us! These truths supersede the ups and downs of our circumstances.
You may be facing something really scary right now. Don’t let yourself get swept up in the fear! Hold on to the truths of who God is and all he has done, and let these truths build up your faith. Remember how he parted the waters of the Red Sea. Remember how Jesus turned ordinary water into outstanding wine. Remember how he rescued you from sin and death and placed his own Holy Spirit in you. Remember, remember, remember! You are a child of God, and nothing, not even the gates of hell, can prevail against you. Your problems may not go away, but you will find peace.
“Jesus, I wonder how I can hold onto your truth when my emotions are pulling me under. I look to you and take your hand. Lead me to my heavenly Father. I don’t want my fears to control me!”
From today May 8, 2012. I am in awe at how every time I read the meditation from this site, it’s like it’s especially written for me. Like God know how to speak to me or something. Awesome :)
p.s. if you click on the link and it’s not may 8 anymore, it will be a different meditation.
