THE RECORD JANUARY 14, 2021 BRIDAL WWW.THERECORDNEWSPAPER.ORG 5 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: May God bless you! Please know of my congratulations and prayers for all of you featured in this special supplement, which is dedicated to recognizing those who are preparing to celebrate or have recently celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony. I applaud you for your decision to get married in the Church. I want to send a special message of support to couples during these difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know many of you have had to make big changes in your plans for your wedding. I thank you for sacrificing for others. Marriage and Holy Orders are the two sacraments of the Church that are "for others." Through the sacrament of marriage, a man and woman receive the grace and power to live out this public witness of love. You also share the grace of a sacrament of the Church and a public vocation that contributes to the common good. This vocation is experienced in two major ways: the bearing or adopting and raising of children and a faithful, sacrificial love that calls the husband and wife to go out and serve others. In his Apostolic Exhortation, "The Joy of Love" (sections 89-119), Pope Francis shares a beautiful reflection on Saint Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and the passage from Saint Paul that is often proclaimed at weddings. I encourage you to read it. (Go to the Holy See website at www.vatican.va and search for The Joy of Love.) Pope Francis describes how love is patient and at the service of others and how love is not jealous, boastful, irritable or resentful. Instead, married love is generous and forgiving as it rejoices with others, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. This is the love that Jesus describes in the Gospel according to Saint John with the Greek word agape: a love that exists for the sake of others. As you seek to live out this exciting, demanding, and sometimes challenging vocation, please know that Christ and His Church are always with you. Your parish community is there to help. Do not be afraid to reach out when you need assistance. This is an exciting time in your life, and we rejoice with you. Thank you for your witness of love! Sincerely yours in our Lord, Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Archbishop of Louisville Sinc cer e el ly your u s in our Lor ord,
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