Dublin, Ireland, Aug 23, 2018 / 09:38 am
To couples seeking marriage, the Church needs both to be welcoming and to present a "clear vision" of the sacrament, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said Thursday at the World Meeting of Families.
Marriage "is rooted in the love of God and is to be an expression of the faithfulness and fruitfulness of God's love," he said in a keynote for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin Aug. 23.
Sacramental marriage is "intertwined with the love Christ has for his Church" and includes sacrifice, forgiveness, and healing. "Our teaching is a rich vision that informs all that we want to share with those who are starting out on married life," he said.
Addressing the subject of marriage preparation, Nichols offered advice for how parishes can help engaged couples to embrace the Church's vision, even in the face of an increasingly secular view and focus on the wedding "industry."