Archbishop Dolan's Thought for the Week

June 10, 2008

Dear Friends united in love and service of Jesus Christ and His Church:

Is June still the most popular month for couples to get married?

Used to be that way.  Our priests tell me that May and June are still probably the “preferred months,” but that weddings can happen almost anytime these days.

Anyway, our congratulations and prayers to our newly married brides and grooms, and happy anniversary to those of you celebrating milestones this time of year.

We are worried, though, because, to put it bluntly, fewer and fewer people -- Catholics included -- are, in fact, getting married at all.

Actually, we have a vocation crisis in the sacrament of matrimony!  Usually, when we pray for “an increase in vocations” we mean priests, sisters, and brothers.

We had better start adding, “For an increase in vocations to lifelong, life-giving, marriage.”

Because the researchers tell us that only 50 percent of Americans are getting married -- Catholics included.

Why?  A lot of reasons are suggested by the experts:  a fear of commitment; apprehension about marriage because this generation has seen so many fail; a preference for career and care-for-self rather than the selfless sacrifice marriage necessitates; or the convenience of “living together” which gives couples all the bonus without any of the onus of marriage.
 
You got me.  All I know is that a lack of vocations to matrimony is a disaster for our country, our Church, for humanity.

Recently, a very thoughtful, faithful Catholic observed to me that she believed a lifelong, life-giving, faithful marriage was no longer possible.
 
“The Church is ‘out-of-it’ to expect that,” she commented.  “A successful, happy, permanent marriage is now no longer humanly possible.”

All I could reply to her was, “I guess that’s why it’s a sacrament, because then we’re assured of God’s supernatural grace, which is stronger than any earthly problem.”
 
“For an increase in vocations to lifelong, life-giving, faithful marriage, we pray to the Lord!”

“Lord, hear our prayer!”

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

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