Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63, Isaiah 12:2-6, Matthew 19:3-12
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OPERATION RESCUE
"Let no man separate what God has joined." -Matthew 19:6
When the Lord joins a couple together in marriage, "they are no longer two but one flesh" (Mt 19:6). With almost half of the Christians of our country divorced, we can come to only one of two conclusions: either God did not join these couples together, or they are not being faithful to their marriage covenant.
To help couples be faithful, we should prepare them for marriage much more carefully. For example, they should be taught from the beginning the truths concerning the indissolubility of marriage, the Church's teaching on not using artificial means of birth control, etc. This will probably mean witnessing fewer weddings. We should also do everything we can to encourage, support, and strengthen existing marriages. We definitely should not do what we've been doing, because it is obviously, woefully inadequate. We need different results, and different results will only come from radically, not slightly, different means.
Christian marriages are in a state of emergency. Singles, priests, religious, married couples, and the divorced should all rally in prayer and active service to quickly change the state of Christian marriage. If one member of Christ's body suffers, they all suffer (1 Cor 12:26). Let's lay down our lives for each other and for Christian marriages (see 1 Jn 3:16).
Prayer: Father, through the intercession of Mary, restore the sacrament of matrimony.
Promise: "Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you." -Ez 16:60
Praise: Both St. Pontian and St. Hippolytus dedicated themselves to celibate lives for the sake of Christ's bride, us.
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from August 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
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