Today was the annual parish “Marriage Jubliee”, where we invite couples living a significant anniversary (i.e. divisible by 5) to renew their vows. 18 couples participated, totalling 550 years of married life. The oldest couple was celebrating 55 years together. It was really very nice.
I thanked the couples, and told the couples that by their witness they challenge the pessimism we so easily have regarding marriage in this day and age. Yes, it *is* possible to “make it”. I think we need more celebrations like this across the Catholic Church, to help combat this pessimism. It really is a wonderful way to affirm people in their vocational choice, and to affirm that vocation itself.