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Views from the Choir Loft

The Meaning of Marriage

Fr. David Friel · September 2, 2012

Earlier this week, we celebrated the Passion of Saint John the Baptist. Why was the Baptist killed?

It began with Herod, who decided to take his brother’s wife as his own. John the Baptist rightfully didn’t approve of that, and he said to Herod: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Needless to say, that opposition did not put John in Herod’s good graces. So John the Baptist was killed for his defense of marriage.

It’s so very much like the story of Sir Thomas More. Thomas was asked by Henry VIII to give approval to the king’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. As a matter of conscience, Thomas More refused to give his approval. And so he, too, suffered death for his defense of marriage.

In our own day, marriage is under siege in numerous ways. Society asks us to accept that marriage means whatever we want it to mean. Society asks us to view marriage as a mere business arrangement—as simply a legal construct. But that is not what marriage is.

Marriage is a Sacrament, instituted by Christ, for the fostering of family life. We need the moral courage—the fortitude—to call evil evil and good good. We may never be put to death for raising opposition to modern trends. But, then again, maybe we will.

We need the intercession of Saints John the Baptist and Thomas More to strengthen us in this fight. Let’s ask for their heartfelt prayers so that the world might rediscover the authentic meaning of Holy Matrimony.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.”

— Vatican II Council

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