St. Anthony & Our Lady of Fatima

“They are no longer two but one flesh.”

The Catholic Church has suffered heavy losses through the scandalous sexual sins of a few priests. These priests were ordained in the sacrament of Holy Orders to be a sign of God’s love for His people. Instead, the sign the world reads through the sins of these priests is that the Church is no longer trustworthy. Catholic married couples are also a sacrament, through the Sacrament of Matrimony, an outward sign of God’s love for the world. God so loved the world that He created us male and female (Gn 1:27). He poured out His love in our hearts (Rm 5:5) so that married couples would take the lead in showing broken, bruised humanity how much God loves them. Therefore, no Catholic married couple should ever criticize a priest for being a poor sign of God’s love. Instead, they should look in the mirror, for a married couple is called to be a great sign of God’s love. One marriage rich in God’s love can greatly build up the Church. Far too many Catholic marriages in the USA end in divorce. No wonder the Church is weakened! People simply read the signs and conclude that God is not with the Church because wives and husbands don’t love each other (cf Eph 5:23-25, 29-32).

Couples, your marriage is not just about the two of you. Your marriage “has been decided in heaven” (Tb 7:11). Renew your love for each other “not because of lust, but for a noble purpose” (Tb 8:7) of building up the kingdom of God.

St. Jerome asserted: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism 133). If we are ignorant of Christ, we will not discern the will of the Lord (Eph 5:17). This means we will not make “the most of the present opportunity” (Eph 5:16). But through knowledge of the Scriptures and through good discernment of God’s will, we are saved from a futile (see 1 Pt 1:18), vain (see Eccl 1:2) existence.
Therefore:

• “Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may observe carefully all that is written in it; then you will successfully attain your goal” (Jos 1:8).
• Let the law of the Lord be your joy, and study God’s law day and night (see Ps 1:2).
• Devour God’s words and make them the joy and happiness of your heart (Jer 15:16).
• Abide in God’s Word (Jn 8:31).
• Devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42).
• Each day study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
• Preach God’s Word and “stay with this task whether convenient or inconvenient — correcting, reproving, appealing — constantly teaching and never losing patience” (2 Tm 4:2).
• How precious is God’s Word! Love, live, and proclaim His Word.