Author Topic: "marriage prep" pre vatican II (Read 28456 times)

Matthew · « **Reply #30 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:27:02 PM »

When you've served in the front lines of a major world war, facing death multiple times a day, possibly watching friends get blown up before your eyes -- you have my blessing to find and marry a woman in two weeks

Some things accelerate the maturity process. Facing death constantly is one of them.

I'm sure those GIs were very mature after their experience.

As an ex-seminarian, I can relate to some extent. In the spiritual realm, I was basically in boot camp during a time of war. We all knew that souls were being lost, and that the world was in grave danger. We had to use our time wisely and study and pray a lot, because we never knew what we'd be called upon to be knowledgeable about.

I strongly believe that 3 years in seminary during "normal times" is NOT the same thing as 3 years during a crisis. It's like being in the military for 3 years vs. being in the military for 3 years during World War II. There's a certain "urgency" in the latter case, a driving sense of purpose.

It's very hard to go back to the world after completely leaving it behind for 3 1/2 years. That's why soldiers experience depression and other issues re-integrating with the happy-go-lucky world after the war ends.

Matthew · « **Reply #31 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:34:46 PM »

Tele,

You seem to think that waiting 6 months from engagement to marriage is a grave risk of fornication.

But what about Catholic doctrine that says you should't be spending time alone with your fiancee?

I think that's the problem.

Of course you can't put yourself in a situation of temptation without a proportionate reason.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #32 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:35:10 PM »

I don't think a six-month wait should be mandatory, but does anyone care that it often takes that long to adequately plan a very normal wedding? It is supposed to be one of life's major celebrations and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to tell the out-of-state family that it didn't matter if they couldn't plan to come that quickly as we don't really need them there anyhow.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #33 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:42:23 PM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

but does anyone care that it often takes that long to adequately plan a very normal wedding?

I'm sorry, but picking a date, sending invitations, buying a dress and booking a location for a reception only takes "six months" for people who also believe a modest wedding reception should cost $10,000, a wedding cake should cost hundreds, and that they need to have some DJ play a bunch of stereotypical wedding songs at a very high volume.

What preparations are really needed for a wedding, compared to those preparations required by the bridal industry?

Should young Catholic men have to contribute thousands of dollars to DeBeers and the Oppenheimer family or Lev Leviev to buy their fiancee a wedding ring?

These "fashionable" wedding customs are for the most part things that Catholics should definitely reject if they had any common sense.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #34 on:** September 10, 2011, 02:45:42 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

Quote from: MaterDominici
but does anyone care that it often takes that long to adequately plan a very normal wedding?

I'm sorry, but picking a date, sending invitations, buying a dress and booking a location for a reception only takes "six months" for people who also believe a modest wedding reception should cost $10,000, a wedding cake should cost hundreds, and that they need to have some DJ play a bunch of stereotypical wedding songs at a very high volume.

What preparations are really needed for a wedding, compared to those preparations required by the bridal industry?

Should young Catholic men have to contribute thousands of dollars to DeBeers and the Oppenheimer family or Lev Leviev to buy their fiancee a wedding ring?

These "fashionable" wedding customs are for the most part things that Catholics should definitely reject if they had any common sense.

I took us quite a bit of effort to find a reception location that wasn't booked 12 months out. This wasn't anything fancy, either, just a church social hall that was big enough to fit our families.