Renewing vows and celebrating marriage

I joined a young couple today as they marked their 10th Wedding Anniversary with a celebration. In church they renewed their vows, gave thanks for their growing family and prayed for the years ahead. Their two families came together to support them and share their memories of the past 10 years. Food, drinks and sunshine helped make the day special.
It is good to see solid  marriages celebrated in this way, especially in today's world where we see its true meaning undermined. That this couple included God in their marriage from day one and again in the renewal of their vows today, ensures that they do not journey alone. God will be with them in their joys and sorrows, pleasures and hardships until they reach their eternal goal.
It was also good to see two of our HFG families joining their celebration. Other families will have been at Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland today for the annual Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form. It is a wonderful setting and the music and singing are always worthy of the occasion. It has been gloriously sunny and warm today which means that families will have lingered with their picnics. Both events seem fitting ways to also mark the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity.