Dear Readers,
I wish you could have been with me at my son’s wedding last week. The beautiful Nuptial Mass was celebrated at Holy Mother of Consolation Church in Oregon with a lovely reception afterwards down the road at a banquet hall overlooking the valley.
Since you weren’t able to be there, I thought I might at least share with you the toast I gave at the dinner; I’m fairly sure you can relate to what I was trying to say:
This week, we’re celebrating marriages in the Catholic Herald. We have some pages dedicated to that beautiful, holy, and important sacrament.
“Beautiful” was the word of the day recently in Cross Plains.
….
August 12 marked the day of the annual Diocese of Madison Celebration of Wedding Anniversaries, this year held at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cross Plains.
 |
|
Two weeks ago, I had the great good pleasure of presiding at the wedding of my niece, Bryna.
She has been, all her life, a lovely girl, full of joy and good cheer — and eager to give herself in service to others.
Her husband, Nelson, is also a fine person, and he took the courageous step of becoming a Catholic in anticipation of his wedding.
“What a joy it is to be here with such fine witnesses of fidelity,” said Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison.
A Sunday afternoon Mass, Aug. 16, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona, was part of the annual Diocese of Madison Celebration of Wedding Anniversaries.
What advice would a couple married for 50 years give to couples getting married today?
Each year, Bishop Robert C. Morlino celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving for all married couples in the Diocese of Madison who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
A small church once had an inspiring wedding tradition. After the wedding, the pastor would invite the newly married couple to pull on the rope that rang the church bells and share the good news of their wedding with the town.
First the bride pulled on the rope with her beautiful hands, but the bell did not ring. Next the muscular groom tugged mightily, but the bell did not ring. Then the bride and groom pulled together and, lo and behold, the bells rang out the good news of their marriage.
 |
| Andy and Mary Fabian |
This story begins in 1992, when one man married one woman the old-fashioned, non-destination way with eight bridesmaids, a wedding march, a dollar dance, and a DJ.
Cradle Catholic married Purely Protestant and the first issue up for debate was how to postpone pregnancy (the arguments about in-laws and money came much later).
