Tuesday, January 23, 2007

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him." John 2:11

Catholic marriage is like another Cana marriage, plentiful of God's grace and miracles. Catholic parents, even after hundred of years, can be a source of blessing to their children and grandchildren. That is why Catholic Church always pleads: avoid entering into mixed marriages! God Himself is against it, for when Israelites were about to enter the pagan country of Chanaan (Canaan), the Lord warned them: "Thou shalt not give thy daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for thy son: For she will turn away thy son from following me". Deuteronomy 7:3,4. Usually, a Catholic married to non-Catholic will sooner or later apostasise or become indifferent in their faith which is sadly proved by endless examples. Moreover, can we expect in mixed marriages a genuine unity of the souls? One side usually condemns what the other considers as truth. One spouse rejects with disgust and contempt the Holy Mass, devotion to the Saints, prayers for the dead, Sacrament of Penence, the Holy Communion and the sign of Cross, all that should be kept as a most holy devotion by the other. How painful and long-lasting could be disharmony like this! And what we can expect concerning children religious upbringing in mixed marriages? The child basically can feel confused. Is the father or the mother right? The father makes the sign of the cross, but not so the mother. The father attends Catholic Mass whereas mother goes to Protestant worship meetings. Any child living in family like this can be confused. In the end children will develop indifference in their religion. And what to expect in the matter of keeping the marriage vows? For we all know that Protestants do not accept the dogma of marriage indissolubility. Be then watchful and prudent as was Nehemiah. He made his people to swear not to enter into marriages with non-Israelites: "Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves." Neh 13:35 (KJV)