The idea behind ceremonies is that they speak for themselves. Or, as our Confessions put it, their purpose is to teach the people about Christ.

Liturgical worship developed organically in response to the miracle of our Lord’s Presence with us in Word and Sacrament. It is no accident that every ancient pre-Reformation church tradition was, and is, liturgical.

In these last days, as the influence of Christendom wanes and fades in the Western world, we often might breathe a sigh of relief when a relative, for example, chooses to marry any Christian, including a Roman Catholic.