Scottish Catholic Observer

Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman hopes the Royal wedding will increase ‘awareness of the value of marriage in our society.’

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, joined Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and Cardinal Seán Brady of Ireland at the Royal wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Friday, which was also attended by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.

“It was a privilege to represent the Catholics of Scotland at the wedding in Westminster Abbey of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton last Friday,” Cardinal O’Brien said. “I am sure that the example of this couple, aware of the solemnity of their conferring the sacrament of matrimony to one another, will also affect for the good the awareness of us all of the power of the sacrament of marriage.”

Marriage

The cardinal said that the Royal wedding showed that marriage and Christianity played an important role on our society.

“Today, when more and more people live together without the benefits of God’s blessing on their union; when many neglect their vows and so readily separate for no good reason; when children are not always welcome as a sign of God’s blessing on their union—along with many of you I ask for an increased awareness of the value of marriage in our society,” he added.

“I ask all married couples to renews at this time their own marriage vows realising that the love in which they are caught up is not only the love they have for         one another but also a share of the infinite love of God for them and for all humanity.”

St Andrew’s ties

Cardinal O’Brien went on to say that, as an honorary graduate of St Andrews University, he was delighted to be present at this wedding of ‘two graduates of the same university, soon to celebrate the 600th anniversary of is foundation.’

On a serious note he said: “In the midst of all the pomp and ceremony of the marriage of the second in line to the throne, I was very much aware of the fact that two human beings were exchanging their marriage vows before their families and friends and in front of a congregation in the abbey of 2000 but were also being watched by several billion  viewers throughout the world.

“In my thoughts and prayers were those two individuals… I was aware that they were pledging their lives to one another—but in reality they were also pledging their lives to the service of their country and the Commonwealth for as long as they lived.”

The cardinal, who gave the couple a SCIAF Real Gift for their weeding,  said that he hoped that God would bless the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Earl and Countess of Strathearn, ‘now and for the years which lie ahead.’