Father O'Reilly on Matrimony.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3692, 25 October 1880, Page 3

Father O'Reilly on Matrimony.

Father O'Reilly, . preaching in St. Francis' Church last evening delivered an edifying discourse on the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. He gave the originators of each sacraments, and explained the reasons why . they were instituted. Speaking on the subject of matrimony—the seventh sacrament—Father O'Reilly said that he was greatly surprised to find so few marriages taking place. The young people whom he often observed " keeping company "• with each other, would probably—many of them—not enter the marriage state. "Bad times" was the reason raised by young men for not " entering the sacred bonds of Hymen, but they would find material benefit to themselves were they to do so. Marriage was ordained for the propagation of the human race, and had existed since our first parents dwelt in Eden, as narrated in the second chapter of Genesis. The Roman Catholic Church discountenanced marriages with persons holding different religious views, on account of the difficulties to be apprehended in bringing up the children. Still marriages between Roman Catholics and members of other faiths were perfectly legal, although objectionable on the above grounds. The reverend Father finished an interesting sermon (which caused many an unreEressed smile from the young lady memera of the congregation) by exhorting young people to think well before entering the holy bonds, and to be careful in the selection of a helpmate who should be so to them until " death they did parti" After this exhortation from ; the i>altaj", we may-expect to see the marriage rate rapidly increase.