"CCC 1661 "The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life" (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1799)."
Three years ago, today, I married the love of my life! As I reflect on this, so many memories come to mind. I remember meeting my Husband and originally turning him away because I thought he was too perfect. I remember reconnecting a year later and starting a beautiful courtship, which had the blessing of many miracles along the way. More than anything, I remember that rainy day that my Husband and I pledged our lives together before God, two priests, and a congregation full of witnesses. I also think of the role that CDD has played in our marriage, and how it has truly strengthened us in the manner so eloquently written in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, citing the Council of Trent.
I stare at the dozen, long-stemmed roses that were just delivered to me, and I sigh contentedly. Their perfume intoxicates me. More than that, though, I am reminded of how the Roses from Heaven have been a constant theme throughout my life.
Although I was born Protestant, and my parents did not believe in infant Baptism, my mother felt lead to dedicate me to God when I was yet an infant-- and for our church's ceremony, she clothed me in a gorgeous Christening gown which was embroidered with little rosebuds. Everything in my life was roses... and my mother has since said that for some reason, she could not disconnect me with them. When I discovered the Church, my first Catholic Prayer that I learned was the Rosary. When I was ill, and in the hospital, the week before the Easter Vigil I was to be Baptised at, I used almost all of my free time to pray both versions of the St. Therese Novena. God heard my prayer, and no only was I able to be released in time for my conversion, but I actually smelled the strongest rose scent of my life, out of nowhere. On the Easter Vigil, too, I received seemingly a thousand roses-- Roses, rose-scented rosaries, books on St. Therese, etc.
During my courtship with my Husband, after we became reacquainted, I began another novena to St. Therese. I remember praying in the chapel on my university's campus one evening, ad-libbing the ending prayer because I had forgotten to bring the booklet with me. I distinctly remember praying, "St. Therese, if [my Husband's name] is the man that God has chosen for me to marry, please send me the roses I so ardently desire." And then, I was struck by a sudden and particular inspiration that I cannot explain then, nor now. I added, "But please, Blessed Mother, be the one to bring them to me." A few minutes after praying, I decided to check my e-mail. What did I find in my in-box, but a picture that my Husband had sent me of his favorite rendition of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with-- miraculously-- ROSES around her heart! When we talked later, I wanted to share this with him, but I kept my mouth shut, continuing to pray the novena. Over the next several days, another barrage of roses fell... We were engaged that Summer, on the Feast of the Assumption. My Husband proposed to me after a Tridentine Mass, at the foot of a side altar dedicated to Mary-- for we had just finished making our consecration (and his renewal) to Jesus through Mary. I cried as he dropped to one knee and asked me to become his wife.
Several months later... on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima... and on a cold and rainy morning, we stood at the Altar. Our wedding was very much the vogue of "Our Big Fat Greek Wedding," complete with white flowered wreaths and lyrical chanting. We were married in the Traditional Maronite-Catholic Rite of Crowning, as my Husband is an Eastern Rite Catholic, and the liturgy was in a beautiful amalgamation of Arabic, Syriac, and some English... mostly for my poor family members who were still struggling with merely being in a Catholic Church, let alone all of the language and cultural barriers. ;-) Finally, after all of the readings, after the homily, we exchanged vows. In a dream-like state, our Maid of Honor and the Best Man held up the Holy Bible. My Husband and I put our covered hands--his covering mine-- upon it. The priest put his stole over our hands, blessed us with the Maronite Cross, and then-- in Arabic-- proclaimed us to be Husband and Wife. :)
In the three years since that day, God has blessed us so much. I can honestly say that the greatest blessing, second only the amazing gift of each other, has been Domestic Discipline. For us, it is the perfect way to live our our wedding vows within our marriage covenant. Perhaps our style of doing things is a bit different from what others practice, but has been an organic process as we have grown in our love for, and understanding of, each other. This lifestyle is certainly not a one-size-fits all sort of thing. We have had our rough moments, our "turbulent times"...but because of our continued implementation Domestic Discipline, my Husband has learned to be the man that he was meant to be, and I am continuing to learn my place has his submissive wife. Indeed, more now than ever, I feel that my husband is truly my Husband.
To my Husband-- Beloved, I am so honored to be your wife, and as we celebrate this, our 3rd anniversary of marriage, I thank God with my whole heart for the gift of you! I renew my vows, and I rededicate myself to humble obedience and submission to your will, as it directly reveals the will of God for my life. I love you, I honour you, and I truly do cherish you, and I will obey you, this day and all of the days of my life. Amen.
5 Comments
Traditional Wife....
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13/5/2009 02:02:54 pm
Kristen,
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13/5/2009 02:06:43 pm
Cory,
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Julie
27/5/2009 10:38:37 am
That was absolutely beautiful and touching. It reminds me of my own Catholic wedding albeit Roman Catholic. You are an inspiration to me.
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