On Saturday 14 May, Cardinal Vincent welcomed 700 couples, celebrating over 25,000 years of marriage, to the ninth annual Mass of thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony at Westminster Cathedral at 3pm.
In his homily, the Cardinal reflected on the words of Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia that ‘the family is the engine of history’. He explained that families ‘are a place where the wonder of God’s presence amongst us is surely seen, a place where the sacrificial love of Christ so often finds expression in daily actions and daily service’.
On the Vigil of Pentecost, the Cardinal prayed that the Holy Spirit ‘kindle that love which makes our families truly creators of history, fashioners of the future and heralds of the Gospel’.
Referring to the renewal of their marriage vows later in the Mass, Cardinal Vincent will say: ‘The renewal of your love today is also a great renewal of our wider society, for your love is a force for life, for kindness and courage, where you may be.’
The Mass for Marriage has been an annual event since 2008, when couples celebrating milestone anniversaries are invited by the Cardinal to renew their vows, as an act of witness for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Photos are available to view here and here and the full text of the Cardinal's homily can be found here.
