Marriage and Parenthood equals martyrdom according to my priest

[aboverubies]

He told me that he feels sorry for the young people who he marries because they don’t know what a martrydom they are getting into.

This priest feels sorry for the couples he marries! Gee, he must be the life of the party at these weddings!

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today on this sorrowful occasion, to witness this sad, sad union of Jack and Jill.”

 

[apricot_yogurt]

Well, I think marriage is a bit of both- we have times of exquisite joy and utter contentment, and moments when we yell at each other, and are left wondering just why we married this person.
When I look back on my marriage, I can say hand on heart that it is a good thing overall-that doesn’t mean we don’t fight, or we don’t suffer at times with our bit of the vocation of marriage.
I guess this is why we need the sacrament of marriage, as we couldn’t do it on our own.

 

[jman507]

If he says that marriage and parenthood is a martyrdom, I wouldn’t take that as a negative. Sometimes it is easy to look at a priest, and think of how much sacrfice he need to do inorder to be a priest. It’s also easy to overlook the importance of what you have done, and what sacrifies you needed to make. Any parents or spouses out their, who have had to die to oneself, in order to do what you need to do to care for your family? I’m sure all. That doesn’t mean there will not be joy. I think it is just the opposite. When you think of all the sacrifies you have made to be a good parent and/or spouse, there probably is lots of joy in that.

 

[Veritas41]

I think my priest views martrydom a noble thing to offer to God. He told me that he feels sorry for the young people who he marries because they don’t know what a martrydom they are getting into.

People are physically attracted and ruled by their sexual instincts. It’s such a strong need to mate and have children that we are slaves to our desires and martyr ourselves on the altar of the sacrament of marriage. St Paul advised us that we are better to stay unmarried, didn’t he. He was probably trying to protect people from the misery that marriage entails. He also advised widows not to remarry if they could help it. Smart advise, St Paul!

I think Paul was advising people not to marry for a different reason – not because they would suffer in marriage but because it’s easier to serve the Lord without distractions and divided loyalties if one is single (one reason we have a celibate priesthood). You should read what Paul said about marriage in Ephesians 5 – he didn’t take a dim view of marriage

 

[deb1]

I think that probably both, vocations priesthood and marriage, have their burdens and aspects of martydom. But many of us are very happy in chosen our vocation and would not choose any other.

When you are in a good marriage then the love that you feel for your spouse grows everyday. The other person almost becomes part of your soul. I can’t imagine life without my husband.

Have their been difficult times or moments of emotional dryness in my marriage. Yes, of course. But it isn’t as though these times last forever. In fact, hard times have made my hubby and I closer.