We were delighted to witness the engagement ofHélène SIMONIN to Baudouin COTTON de BENNETOT. They have known each other for two years and are planning to marry at the end of September. We’ve known Hélène, her parents and her 4 brothers for almost 25 years.
Let’s not forget that to become engaged in Latin means “to entrust oneself to”, because in Roman times, it was up to the man’s parents to ask his bride’s hand in marriage. Today, engagement symbolizes love, a mutual declaration to move forward together, and even a first and often definitive step towards marriage.
Engagement marks the transition from love to commitment. It’s one thing to love, it’s another to make a lifelong commitment. Why is it necessary to make a commitment at a time of PACS, cohabitation and common-law unions? That’s the question young people are asking themselves. Will I be able to make a lasting commitment and be faithful for life? In the light of the Church, marriage is indissoluble. The engagement period is a time to reflect on these questions, on what’s at stake in marriage, and to remain free in your choices. To do this, you need to be trained. This is the objective of the journey that precedes the definitive commitment to marriage.
Engagement expresses that beautiful reality that human love wants to embrace: the very love of Christ in the sacrament of marriage. Christ elevates human love to transcendent love. Christ unites the “two hands” of the engaged couple. Then he unites the couple on the wedding day. It’s a “three-way love”, you might say.
The betrothal is celebrated with a blessing for the engaged couple.
“God our Father, we are yours and our lives rest in your hands. You never leave us alone, and with you we have nothing to fear. Bless Hélène and Baudouin on this day of their engagement. Send them your light: may they recognize that they are made for each other.
Protect them on the path they are about to take together, so that they may live this time of preparation for marriage in respectful, responsible love. In mutual trust and faith in you, may they move more surely towards each other. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord”. Amen.
