Today is celebration day – a celebration of marriage - my parents have been married 60 years. I’ve just given them the card (see picture.) Why the crown? Well, they always feel they are neck and neck with her majesty. A few weeks ago, being Jubilee weekend, they dug out the house decorations they had made 59 years ago as newly-weds for the coronation and once more proudly placed them on the front of their house!
60 years is a long time and certainly reason to celebrate: 60 years and six children - not to mention all the grandchildren and great grandchildren; it’s been a fruitful union: the children are stable and able to stand on their own two feet and, let’s face it, it’s a difficult world and, for the most part, life is a challenging experience. And, 60 years on, they’re still each other’s best friends. You can’t beat that …
I’m into marriage. Yes, I know I’m a celibate and often blog about celibacy but I’m into marriage too. We need solid strong marriages in the church; indeed I’ve been in church scenes without them and, actually, it doesn’t work too well…. Stable married people bring a family atmosphere and a welcome normality; often their offspring (all ages including the very young) have been among my best friends. They need us as well, yes us celibates and the time we have; the fact that we haven’t got our own families makes us more available to them as friends, mothers, fathers etc. Let’s hope that the spiritual dimension we carry because we’re celibate - intimacy with God, warmth of humanity and sharpness in spirit - brings something they need too.
Marrieds, singles, celibates … all are needed but today is a day to remember, a celebration of marriage and a lasting and fruitful one at that ... and for the mutual love, lasting devotion and stability found within it I am profoundly grateful.
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