I know this is a Mom blog, but I recently celebrated my anniversary and want to take the opportunity to reflect on a text I (unknowingly) wrote for my wedding. It might be a bit clunky because it’s translated from French, but I want to share it regardless.
As the story goes (it’s a true story, I was there), we had asked the priest if we could incorporate the beautiful Croatian tradition of the marriage cross into our wedding ceremony. If you’re unfamiliar with the tradition, I recommend watching this video to learn more – it is a deeply meaningful, and rich tradition.
Anyway, the priest was familiar with it, and he asked us to write about what the cross symbolised for each of us. I would like to share my text with you today for a few reasons:
- Loving your spouse is a gift for your children. If their mother and father love each other well, it is an example to them of what married love should be.
- Much of what I said also applies to how to love our children, and indeed, all people.
- I feel like commemorating my anniversary on the blog, so there (happy anniversary again, my love! Let’s have many more – don’t die yet!).
Sp, without further ado, here is the text I wrote that the priest sprung on me to read on our wedding day (seriously… we did the rehearsal like a week before and we saw him for reconciliation the day before and he mentioned nothing. Zero. It was a deer in headlights moment and I almost regretted writing an essay, haha.).
For me, the symbolism of the cross is rich.
The cross was once an instrument of hatred and death, but God transformed it into an instrument of love and life everlasting. I have faith that this same source of grace will transform us in marriage, so that our lives may be a testament of love, just like Christ, who gave His life for us.
Indeed, this is how the cross teaches us to love our spouse. By giving His life, Christ followed the will of God in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the Church: to bring her without spot or blemish to the Father. Likewise, we must learn to hear and obey (there’s really no good translation for shema) the voice of God, and ask the Holy Spirit to give us His courage to do God’s will, so that we can help one another get to heaven.
A saying that’s always resonated with me is: “the symbol of Christianity is not a cushion, but a cross”. Just as the cross represents a difficult path, the married life is also difficult. But Christ persisted in His walk because He had such a great love for us, and because He knew that it was how we could be reunited with the Father. So, we take Him for our example, to pursue our own mission in life as a married couple, even if life gets hard, even if we are met with obstacles or roadblocks, because on the other side of each challenge lies a reunion of love and joy.
Lastly, we know that the death of Christ isn’t the end of the story, but that it ends with His resurrection and glory. It is necessary to undergo the little “deaths” of life, passing through them to share in a new life: one that is richer and more abundant.
That’s it, that’s the text. Let me know your thoughts!
Had you heard of this tradition? What traditions did you have at your wedding? Tell me about their symbolism!
Until next time, let’s pray for each other. And remember, we can do Mom things through Christ who strengthens us!
Mom Things Through Christ 