Promoting the sanctity of marriage

March 5, 2011, 11:30pm

 MANILA, Philippines – Pope Benedict XVI called on Filipino bishops, who recently paid him a visit at the Vatican, to promote the sanctity of marriage, especially among young couples. The Holy Father told the bishops from Southern Luzon and the Visayas that sacraments are instruments of God’s grace and assistance.

“This is true of the sacrament of matrimony which sanctifies married life from its beginning, so that God’s presence may sustain young couples in their struggles,” he said.

Bishops are “shepherds” to their flock, and they have an important role in helping ensure that married couples keep their vows, safeguard family values, and help each other in raising good and God-loving children. It may not be easy, considering that they have to oversee large religious sector in a community, but our church leaders will certainly find means to reach out to them, especially to those in trouble.

The Pope’s call is timely amid the increasing number of Filipino couples filing for legal separation or annulment of marriage. Those who could not afford the expensive legal process just parted ways. It is said that a broken family impacts most on the children. So many engaged couples plunge into marriage without preparation. Marriage is something serious, as maturity and readiness are keys to its success.

A church official said that the number of church marriages went down from 177,940 in 2009 to 166,000 last year, and one of the reasons cited was the high cost of marrying in church, resulting in many young couples postponing marriage, for a live-in arrangement or marrying in a civil rites. The Philippines has elaborate customs when it comes to weddings, that involve many people – and large expense. The costly wedding ceremony might have inspired some city and municipal governments to advocate mass church weddings for their constituencies. Everything is free, from the marriage license to the ceremony to the reception.

God’s blessing is essential in helping married couples begin a new life together.

Our church leaders will continue promoting the sanctity of marriage and making sure that Filipino couples, in raising a family, will always put God in the center of their lives.