Wedding Day
Sunday, November 9th, 2008
Holy water could be heard trickling down the fountain ledge at the gentlest moments in the wedding ceremony. At the musical interludes and when the people filtered into the center aisle for communion – paced by the slowest among them – the sound was building a crescendo that would soften by the final prayer. With heads bowed, the blessings of God were placed on the couple and then the people followed love and its two carriers past the fountain, through the doors and into the foyer, leaving Jesus captured in stained glass at the moment of his ascension.
There may not be a more lonely place than a Catholic church after a wedding. The candles burn but are blown out and turn as cold as the stone floors when the people have gone. The brass holders are carried to a room behind the altar and the gold plates where the preist performed his sacraments are stacked atop one another and removed. Singers are hushed and the beautiful passages that were read aloud by pretty bridesmaids reach the last word. The priest has no more thoughtful words to offer for the day. Love moves on to another place. The sheep are blessed and off to receive these committed lovers in a celebration that will yield more mistakes to be repented on Sunday.
On Saturdays, though, all the people are holy. No one asks for forgiveness, but instead places hope and prayers on the newly married. During the mass, there are prescient words spoken about the hardships that come as frequently as elation. Marriage is a vow entered into with God yet requires significant work even with the involvement of His skilled hands.
Warnings accompany the bliss. Advice and guidance are present in the message, too, and when the people have gone, there are only closed bibles and a still piano. Love is constant movement and a mix of emotion and thought. This church, however, is elaborate masonry, thick pillars, stone entries, heightened ceilings – firm and unwavering in its beliefs. And, it lets loose its followers into the afternoon tempests that are uncaring about their beliefs or what existence the lovers want to shape for their lives together.
These two lovers are protected by God and the people that bear witness to their bond. They will learn to rely on each another from the start and once they break into their way, the bond will strengthen. The journey is never more difficult than at the beginning because a path must be found and kept to in earnest through the darkness. But love gives the brightest light there is and as great as that light will become, it is just as steady in these early days than the holiest of springs.
