Marriage is an important social institution with immense spiritual significance. Indeed, in the Catholic Church, Jesus raised marriage to the status of a Sacrament. The human race continues procreation through the medium. In the natural sense, it is a union between a man and a woman who are capable and of sound mind but not a man and a man or woman and a woman.
Today, we are witnesses to what is happening elsewhere on marriages conducted between people of the same sex. Indeed advancement of the modern times and socio-religious cries of our time have conspired to put pressure on married people and especially those willing or preparing to marry.
It is interesting to note that people are not really prepared for marriage, as they would be when training for a profession, or even the priesthood in terms of duration and content, except for a short period of counseling. It is categorical that couples must be prepared well before marriages are blessed and that no fast track marriage is permissible.
For young people who are capable and of sound mind, and who are ready to marry, need the attention of the Church leaders in preparing them adequately for the life-long partnership of marriage.
In recent times, there is a happy trend of young people wishing to solemnize their marriages in the Church; one could not count the number of youths who blessed their marriages in the Church and those who also bless theirs later.
After confirmation, there ought to be an on-going formation programme for people who are maturing and will soon want to take spouses. This formation in the view of Newswatchgh.com, need to be emphahsised:
Sexuality: Young people are to come to terms with their sex and the role it plays in life and marriage. Sexual relation outside marriage is condemned by Scripture; 1 Cor. 6:13-20. Our African culture also frowns upon sexual relation outside marriage. The youth need to be instructed to practice self –control and self-discipline.
Choice of Partner: Deciding on whom to marry as a youth of the Church is a crucial decision which requires discernment. The choice one makes in who to marry has a far reaching consequence on the marriage later in life.
Any youth contemplating marriage should approach this with prayer. In taking a decision on whom to take for a partner, we should make sure that physical appearance, riches, ethnicity and social position do not blind us. All these can be deceptive. The choice on makes for a partner is an essential element of successful and peaceful marriage.
Courtship: This the period when the man and woman who have consented to marry, make the necessary preparation to enter into the marriage. It is the time for the two to study and know each other. Courtship is not marriage as some may think and the two are not to act as married couple.
Customary Marriage and Holy Matrimony: The Catholic Church for instance teaches that marriage is a Sacrament. Catholic marriage is not complete at the customary rite. It should ultimately end with the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The basic elements ought to be explained clearly to the youth especially Catholics for them to understand why they need to solemnize their marriage after the customary marriage has taken place.
With this area covered, a solid basis would be established for successful marriage among the youth. They will know the purpose of their sexuality and so restrain themselves from sexual immorality; they will make right choices of partners (a very significant thing that reduces marriage conflicts).
It is important for people to select partners who best fulfill their need- what is referred to as Compatibility.
Furthermore, when young people are shown how to court, they would be equipped with the skills which would enable them to look out for relevant information on which to base their choice and decision to marry particular people.
In all of this, Newswatchgh.com is of the view that the youth have to be taken through the basic elements of customary marriage as well as Holy Matrimony, drawing their attention to their similarities and differences.
