6 Gulf Pine Catholic • April 24, 2026 As we evaluate the condition of the Sacrament of Matrimony, we get a variety of iterations based on cultural norms, individual perspectives, perceived civil rights and a host of issues which redefine the institution. But we must be clear. The context of matrimony must be taken considering what it represents. “In the beginning”, God made them man and woman. There is no discussion, that is biblically a statement of fact. In Genesis 22:17-18, it states, “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore. This is done as a byproduct of man and woman, not a whim, but the projection of life which we have carried thus far by the beauty and protection of the Sacrament of Matrimony. Think about it! If I were to destroy mankind, the institution that best represents the perpetuation of the Covenant of God to Abraham is Matrimony! That is why Satan has put such an assault on it. But fear not! We have a mighty God who has given direction as to how we must be as warriors in this conflict. Marriage is the Blessed Weapon used to build a loving and strong society. And scripture gives us the rationale as to how it is done: Matthew 19:4-6: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Genesis 2:24: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” Ephesians 5:25-32: “Hus-bands are urged to love their wives a Christ loved the Church, describing marriage as a ‘great mystery.’” 1 Corinthians 13:4-13: “Love is patient, love is kind…” the classic description of love’s endurance. Mark 10:6-9: Reaffirms the one flesh union and the sanctity of the marital bond. Tobit 8: 4b-8: A beautiful prayer for a shared life, asking to grow old together, often read at Catholic weddings. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “Two are better than one…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Song of Solomon 8:6-7: “Set me as a seal upon your heart…for love is strong as death.” Always remember this, Scripture is where we look for the real answers that gives us the courage to stay strong in our marriages. God is good…all the time! Brothers and sisters, marriage is God’s plan; “The mutual love of spouses becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man.” (CCC 1604). May God continue to Bless you and your Marriages. Deacon Justin Deacon Justin Mitchell is the Director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Biloxi. Marriage & Family Life Mitchell Scripture and Marriage “Mary is the safest, easiest, shortest, and most perfect way of approaching Jesus,” said St. Louis de Montfort, whose feast day is April 28, which is the same day he passed away 310 years ago in 1716 at the age of 43. It’s a good time of year to remember St. Louis de Montfort because his feast day falls just a few days before the start of May, the month of Mary, and he was so instrumental in elevating devotion to our Blessed Mother. Louis de Montfort grew up in a large farming family in France’s northwestern region of Brittany. When he was twelve years old, he began attending the Jesuit College of St. Thomas Beckett in the nearby City of Rennes. There, he discovered the work of a local priest preaching missions promoting consecration and entrustment to Mary. Louis began to dream of following in that priest’s footsteps to spread Marian devotion. Arriving in Paris to study theology at the Sorbonne, Louis found that he lacked adequate funds for lodging, so he lived among the city’s poor while going to school. Louis already had a profound love for the poor and desired to preach missions to them. His first-hand experience living among them led him to fulfill that calling, and also to grow in compassion for others. Shortly before entering seminary, Louis became very ill and had a harrowing experience before finally recovering and entering the Little Saint-Sulpice seminary, run by the Society of the Priests of St. Sulpice. Working as seminary librarian, Louis immersed himself in books about devotion to our Blessed Mother, which prepared him for the work he would do as a priest promoting what he called “total consecration to Jesus through Mary.” Louis went on to preach missions throughout northwestern France and became known as “the good Father from Montfort.” He was also a prolific writer, composing poetry for translation into religious songs, and he wrote books, including “True Devotion to Mary,” which remained unpublished and unknown until being discovered more than a century after his death. When it was finally published in 1842, “True Devotion to Mary” was celebrated for the spiritual fruits it bore in people’s lives. This led to a wider appreciation for Louis’ other writings, such as his books “Secret of the Rosary” and “Secret of Mary.” Together, these three Marian classics explore Louis’ profound insights about how devotion to our Blessed Mother can draw us closer to Christ. In “True Devotion to Mary,” Louis writes, “God the Father made an assemblage of all the waters, and He named it the sea. He has made an assemblage of all His graces, and He has called it Mary.” Total consecration to Jesus through Mary entails detailed steps that can be found in “True Devotion to Mary.” Those steps are also enumerated in many other books and places online. They are essentially aimed at a personal act that can be done on one’s own, with a small group in a private setting, or on retreat. Put simply, that act entails turning to Mary with total love and trust that she will lead us to Her Son. “Totus Tuus,” meaning “totally yours,” was the phrase Pope St. John Paul II took from St. Louis de Montfort to capture this devotion. It’s a simple phrase we can say daily, making our own personal act of consecration to Jesus through Mary, turning to our Blessed Mother with total trust and asking her to lead us to Christ. Fr. Ed Dougherty, M.M., serves on The Christophers’ Board of Directors. For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, write: The Christophers, 5 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org. St. Louis’ devotion to Mary Light One Candle Fr. Dougherty THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. They “are charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs” (USCCA). they respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life. The seven corporal works of mercy are feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the prisoners, bury the dead, and give alms to the poor.
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