Charles+
I agree with you completely about the sacramental side of marriage being
entirely ignored, even in the churches that purportedly hold to it - whether
as a lesser sacrament or simply as a sacred union in general. But then, when
the Church has done nothing other than import the culture into the nave
rather than export the Gospel into the world...I think you and I are singing
out of the same hymnal.
I've read First Things for years and years. It's one of only a handful of
publications I read from cover to cover within a few days of having received
it.
MLW+
-----Original Message-----
From: charles scott [mailto:crscottblu@...]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 3:35 PM
To: faithandlife@...
Subject: RE: [FaithandLife] Preserving the priesthood and families
Mike+
As Fr Wiebe+ indicated, we have marriage as a tradition handed on by the
state complete with inheritance laws and other legislation.
Penance has fallen on hard times according to reports in First Things. With
the rise of modern medicine, who prays for the sick and anoints with any
conviction? As for marriage. . . .well.. . .you get my point. . . .why take
any of the sacraments seriously except those that guarantee MY PERSONAL
salvation.
It is apparent that those who make laws have changed their minds in the past
100 years about the meaning of marriage. I think that churches have
followed the culture.
It is interesting though that about the only shred of Anglicanism that is
still recognized by people outside is the Marriage Rite. People would like
to believe that a new Adam and a new Eve can be blessed by God and make a
garden.
In 1911 Humorist Ambrose Bierce gave this definition of marriage:
"Sacrament, Noun. Marriage, Noun. A Sacrament.
A solemn religious ceremony to which several degrees of authority and
significance are attached. Rome has seven sacraments, but the Protestant
churches, being less prosperous, feel that they can afford only two, and
these of inferior sanctity. Some of the smaller sects have no sacraments at
all -- for which mean economy they will indubitably be damned."
A century has passed since the skeptical Bierce wrote this definition in his
"Devil's Dictionary." And, after over half a century of neglect of the
sacrament, our country is reaping the damnation. Bierce had no idea he was
speaking as a prophet.
Charles+
--- "Michael L. Ward" <mward@...> wrote:
> Charles+
>
> I was thinking of those passages when I originally asked my question;
> but are they specifically
Eucharistically oriented?
>
> And no, I don't think I'd like arguing with you about it. Maybe at
> synod over a cup of coffee, but
right now, after a long tax season, I'm just too
> pooped to think clearly enough to even begin to argue a point much
> less make > one.
>
> MLW+
>
>
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