World Marriage Day: Celebrating a Sacred Covenant
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Every year World Marriage Day is celebrated by the Church worldwide as a day set aside to honor marriage as the foundation of family life. It is a beautiful opportunity for the Church to celebrate the example marriage demonstrates of honor, beauty, dignity, and living out one’s vocation. For Catholics, marriage is far more than just a social status, contract, or romantic partnership; it is a sacrament, a visible sign of God’s invisible grace in the world.
At its core, Christian marriage reflects the faithful, life-giving love of God Himself. This self-giving love, evident through Jesus’s Passion, death, and Resurrection, is truly lived out everyday in the Sacrament of Marriage through the call to lay down your own life for your spouse. This self-giving love that Christ exemplifies is the foundation on which sacramental marriage is built. It is a true vocation of love.
Marriage as a Vocation of Love
Vocations are callings from God that invite us to live out our lives in a particular way. As Catholic Christians, our ultimate vocation is holiness. We are called to take up our cross daily and follow the Lord, surrendering everything to Him. Marriage is a particular vocation that some of the faithful are called to. It is a vocation of love and service, truly living out the call to lay down your life for the good of another.
Through daily acts of patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and joy, spouses become instruments of grace for one another, helping each other live out lives of holiness in tune with their unique callings from God. As St. Pope John Paul II articulated: “Love between a man and a woman cannot be built without sacrifices and self denial.” In times of both joy and heartache, married couples are reminded of their faith and their ultimate goal: eternal life with the Lord. This partnership, rooted in the Sacrament of Marriage, allows them to keep their eyes fixed on Christ, despite what may be happening around them, while also pouring into one another and the domestic church.
A Witness to the World
Current culture isn’t always supportive of Christian marriage. Oftentimes today we see celebrities, world leaders, and even friends and family members avoiding marriage or struggling to commit to one another faithfully. The perseverance exemplified in the Sacrament of Marriage not only provides hope to the Church and others around the world, but also illustrates the love of God and His sacrificial gift for all.
The Church recognizes that marriage is not easy, nor is it always a “picture-perfect” example of love and faithfulness. World Marriage Day is a way to celebrate the dedication of married couples and the grace given by God through the sacrament to have a lasting, life-giving relationship. Trusting in God’s mercy and love helps married couples continue along the path of holiness, raise children in the faith, and serve as examples in the community as to the importance of marriage and family life, as well as the importance of being kind, compassionate citizens in society.
Honoring and Supporting Married Couples
On this special day, the Church invites us to pray for all married couples: newlyweds, couples who have been married for many years, couples carrying heavy crosses, spouses raising families, and couples who are far from the Lord and seeking His grace. This day also reminds us of the importance of supporting marriages in our community, encouraging healthy relationships around us, offering support to struggling couples, and upholding a society that respects the dignity of life.
As Catholic women in business, there are many ways we can honor and support marriage in our day-to-day life. As business owners, we can implement policies that uphold maternity and paternity leaves, family leave needs, and flexible hours for working parents and caregivers. As employees and leaders, we can create a culture within our businesses that respects family life and permits the flexibility necessary for individuals with spouses and families. We can rephrase the way we talk about marriage and family life amongst our peers and friends to create a positive connotation surrounding the sacrament.
World Marriage Day is a beautiful invitation from the Church to reflect on the significance of marriage in our own lives and within society as a whole. We are reminded as married couples to renew our marriage vows each and every day through our words, actions, and deeds. By honoring marriage, we are honoring the Lord and His perfect design for us.
Marisa McDonald is a wife and mother living in Central Indiana. She has previously worked for various nonprofit spaces in fundraising, development, and strategy and is actively involved on boards within her community. A creative homemaker, Marisa is making the most of each day cherishing loved ones.