ONE LONG HONEYMOON

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2012, 20 March 1914, Page 8

ONE LONG HONEYMOON

. . WEDDED HAPPINESS. PLAIN WORDS TO WOMEN, 'At St. Joseph's Church, Buckle ! Street last evening, the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, cno of the Marist missioners, delivered a very impressive sormoii on the sanctificati'on of mar- , riage. His text was: "This is a great Sacrament, but I speak in Christ and in the Church." (Ephesiaus, v. .32.) The preacher said that God had ordained that all men should follow a certain modo of life. Some were called to the priesthood, some to the cloister, a certain number led a life of single blessedness, but the great majority of mankind ontered tho married state. Marriage entailed great responsibilities, and its ends should be carried out according to God's decrees. God had instituted the Sacrament of Matrimony to enable the contracting parties, by the help of His grace, to bear worthily whatever of joy or sorrow, prosperity or adversity came from tho Omnipotent Hand. Long Engagements Not Salutary. /In olden days parents chose husbands for their daughters, and this practice had the warrant of Scriptural authority, , and was in keeping with the dictates of Providence. Sentiment was all right if allied with discretion, but nowadays there was too much sentiment indulged in when choosing a partner for life. It was a serious thing to approach the Sacrament of Matrimony, and as it bound the contracting parties for life, it was instituted only for those men and women who, with Christian sentiments, were .willing to give up their personal freedom and pledge their fealty and fidelity to each other. It was Tight that young people should be given an opportunity of meeting each other and testing their suitability, but the danger of too much ing could not be too strongly pointed out. They lived in an age'when many young men without belief in God, without fear of His judgments, without a shred of honour or a knowledge of the dignity of'womanhood, desired the company of .young women, not for their virtues, or with a view to any honourable marriage. Young men should remember their Christian • heritage rind the chivalry that should lead the strong to protect the weak. Parents should i remember that danger sometimes lurked iri their own homes, and long intimate parlour conversations were not to be encouraged. Long engagements were not salutary, and parents should see that no temptations were placed in the paths of their daughters. A child was nurtured and shielded from danger in her tender years, but as soon.as her school da3 r s were over, parental care very often ■ seemed to be slackened. These young girls readily acquired the spirit of .the world; their minds were filled \rith dress and hat creations, and they spent their evenings out, without any inquiry as to their location, or the company they kept. Beware of .Young Fops. Young women should remember that marriago was a Sacrament, and they should look for a partner who realised a-like- responsibility. They should see that he was practical, industrious, just and sober. They should beware of young fops—animated fashion plates— who appeared all very well in tho streets, but whose private lives would not bear inspection. Friendships should not bo formed between members of tho opposito sexes until tho characters wore well known. The drunkard ; should be shunned for a husband. It might bo said that_later on ho would improve, but experience taught that if a young , man could not keep away from tho drink before marriage there was very little chance of his betterment afterwards. The lazy man and the crooked man wore to bo- avoided, as was the spendthrift who perhaps dressed well bi;t whoso worldly' possessions' were but the 'clothes on his back and his silver-mounted walking-stick. Young- men should belong to a friendly society, and during the time of engagement should not indulge in useless expenditure. Mixed Marriages. To the non-Catholics present he would say all honour to them for tho respect shown to Catholic worship and for tb,mutual amity which existed in their private relations with persons of all religious beliefs; but he would say to them, "Never marry ?a Catholic, unless you,were prepared to become one yourself, for mixed' marriages were'a fruitful sourco of discord and dissension." Why ? Because Jesus Christ had likened the'union of'husband and wife to that which existed between Himself and the Church. "For the husband is tho head ot-tbe wifo as Christ is the head of the Church. Husbands lovo your wives as Christ also' loved the Church and delivered Himself up for it." ' 'Where thero was a difference ju religion there must be a certain reserve, and in most cases; the'faith of ono or other was either weakened or altogether destroyed, and the; children born of such unionß wore usually, neglected .so far as thoir spiritual life was concerned. People should marry in their own Church, and havo purity, peace, and harmony in their homes. A young man should not marry a girl for nor frills and feathers, for that sort of girl had generally more on her than in her. They should choose a helpmato for her virtues, a girl remarkable for her simplicity .and modesty, one'who would gladden the heart, keep a bright home, and make the husband a better man. Thero was a cry in the world to-day of "Away-with family ties." They would disregard the responsibilities which they were created to undertake. Marriage" called for mutual lovo and affection, and there was no reason why a Christian marriage should, not bo one long honeymoon.'

Racs Suicide. Racc.suicido and infanticide were rampant in thesodays, and were causing alarm to all right-thinking men, ana wero receiving the attention of modern statesmen and Governments. Tho terrible selfishness of tho married brought an awful curse, and every person, professional or otherwise, who for any reason whatever encouraged or condoned tho offence should be avoided as- the plague. Marriage led the great majority to the heavenly life, and if tho married state had its drawbacks it also had its consolations, and the greatest consolation to parents was in sons and daughters worthily taking their placo in tho world, a credit to their parents, to their Church, and to their country.

The women's mission will continuo till Sunday afternoon. At 3 o'clock the renewal of baptismal vows will take place. In tho 'evening at 7. o'clock a mission for men will begin, and will continue for ten days. To-morrow evening a very-important function will take place. There will be a special sermon and afterwards a procession round the church.