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St. Joseph Catholic Church

1875 S C R 700 W
North Vernon, IN 47265

Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer, Administrator

Office Hours:

Monday Office closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 AM till 12:30 PM

St. Joseph Rectory Phone: 812-346-4783
Fax: 812-352-9033

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Ask Fr. Meyer

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There are many rumors about what you like and do not like at a wedding, can you clear some of these rumors up?

I would like to answer with a strong foundation. It is not about what “I” like. The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is a Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It is one of the Seven Sacraments. Thus, the Church prescribes what is and what is not allowed to take place. The problem with the celebration of Marriage, is that like many other sacraments in the Church in the past few decades, priests have allowed anything to take place, and it has left people with the idea that anything is allowed. But let me clarify, the liturgy and the Sacraments are not our Creative Playground. They are not something that we make-up or get out of a magazine or see on a T.V. show. They are not to be touching, sentimental, theme parties. They are intended to be encounters with God, by God and for God. They are ways that we encounter God. They are directed from on high. And they are to be RECEIVED by us- not CREATED by us. This is a different and somewhat drastic notion of the sacraments. Many of us might not be used to this approach. But, it is what the Church expects. It is what I, as a priest, live day in and day out. I trust that 2,000 years of living tradition has served us well and that innovations often cause drastic problems. I celebrate each sacrament with reverence and devotion; strictly abiding to the Rite of the Church. I have found that people have a religious sense within them that finds this attractive. The Rites themselves are attractive! This is not just pertaining to holy matrimony, but to all seven sacraments. The sacrament of Holy Matrimony is not the only sacrament where the creativity of brides and their mothers has created a spectacle. The watering-down and secularization of the liturgy has taken place across the board. I have been to celebrations of Holy Mass that looked more like a circus than the last supper (even one where a priest wore a Snoopy vestment). I have been to Reconciliation Services that have caused actual fires that involved fire-departments, but not the forgiveness of sins. I have been to baptisms that were so “dry” that I wondered if anything had happened. Yet, all of this was done with GOOD INTENTIONS. People are not intentionally trying to go against the Church. People are trying to create a meaningful experience, invoke emotions and make people feel good. The problem is that they often ended up making a mess and the bigger problem is that GOD is often neglected and/or forgotten. The thing that needs to be remembered is this: the Sacraments are more about God working than us doing. We are to receive Sacraments. We need to trust that what the church offers is good enough. We do not need to add, create or manipulate the Church to get what we want. So, the golden principal is “less is more and stick to the basics.” Next week I will begin addressing some fun issues: The Exchange of rings, the Unity Candle, Unity Sand, Secular Music and Modest Dress.