Johannesburg, 03 October, 2024 / 9:48 pm (ACI Africa).
Marriage is a lifelong commitment and has no “expiry date”, the Liaison Bishop for Marriage and Family Life at the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) has said.
In his reflection on the Sacrament of marriage ahead of Marriage Sunday on October 6, Bishop Noel Rucastle emphasized the nature of marriage as a lifelong commitment that he said requires much deliberation before deciding to embrace it.
“Marriage must always be a choice based on sound reasoning and deliberation. Yes, marriage is a lifelong commitment, a commitment for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. An “expiry date” should never be part of that plan,” Bishop Rucastle said.
The October 6 marriage Sunday that the SACBC Department for Formation, Life, and Apostolate of the Laity has organized seeks to encourage married couples and those considering marriage to reflect on the meaning and commitment of the sacrament.
In his reflection, Bishop Rucastle said that the permanence of marriage should not be subject to conditions or time limits. He urged couples to understand marriage as a conscious choice, where the decision to love should not be left to chance.
