Statement of Intentions - Rite of Marriage QUESTION from Deacon Larry Lottier January 22, 2000
May the priest/deacon omit the question Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church? It gives the example of omitting the question for a couple advanced in age. But what of a young couple that prefers not to raise children. Or should the priest/deacon use the question ONLY if the couple requests it? Continued blessings on your work, Deacon Larry Lottier ANSWER by Mr. John Miskell on January 23, 2000
Dear Deacon Larry, Thank you for your question and for your blessing. I had to re-read it though to make sure whether it was a liturgy or pro-life question as this question touches on both topics. As we know, the celebrant is not allowed to change anything in the rubrics on his own initiative [Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #22]. Couple this fact with the fact that the marital act must remain open to the possibility of having children and we then have our answer. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1652 By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ORDERED TO THE PROCREATION AND EDUCATION OF THE OFFSPRING and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory.[160] CHILDREN ARE THE SUPREME GIFT OF MARRIAGE and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. God himself said: It is not good that man should be alone, and from the beginning [he] made them male and female; wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words: BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY. Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing the spouses to COOPERATE valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.[161] Keep up the good work. God bless you and your ministry, John Miskell P.S.If someone tried to pressure me to compromise on this, I would recite one of my all time favorite quotations. It's from Blessed Josemaria Escriva, the Spanish Priest who founded Opus Dei.
Compromising is a sure sign of not possessing the truth. When a man yields in matters of ideals, of honor or of faith, that man is without honor and without faith. Back to Index Page