The Holy Estate of Matrimony
Gary Eickmeier
the minister:
"... reminding us of that mystical reunion that exists between Christ
and His church...
"... which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified at Cana of Galilee...
"... into this holy estate these two now come to be joined..."
I must check the text all this comes from and see exactly what is
written, but I'm pretty sure that marriage is a holy "state" and that
the arrangement between Christ and His church is a "union," not a
reunion. Now I'm working on "beautified" vs "beatified."
Anyone?
Gary Eickmeier
mb
> I shot a wedding Saturday (video).
Yeah, these days you better avoid certain verbs.
> I heard the following message from
> the minister:
> "... which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified at Cana of Galilee...
> "... into this holy estate these two now come to be joined..."
>
> I must check the text all this comes from and see exactly what is
> written, but I'm pretty sure that marriage is a holy "state" and that
> the arrangement between Christ and His church is a "union," not a
> reunion. Now I'm working on "beautified" vs "beatified."
>
> Anyone?
One, fairly experienced in matters matrimonial, especially
detrimonial. When push comes to shove, the only holy thing in that
state is the estate. As for how apt the word "beautification" is, you
got to watch for the moment the mask falls off the pretty face.
If you're asking, you've been spared learning by trial. That's
beatitude.
Robert Lieblich
John Dean
'Estate' is old-fashioned, but then Church Services often are. You didn't
say what denomination was involved or which Service they were using.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662 version) has < Dearly beloved, we are
gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this
congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony;
which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's
innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and
his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his
presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; >
You also hear the term in phrases like 'I have come to man's estate'.
Replaced by 'state' in more modern texts for sure.
You'll see the BCP has 'union' and I would guess 'reunion' is an error in
speaking or hearing.
The Book has 'beautified'. 'Beatified' would work, but that doesn't seem to
be what is laid down. Unless a more modern version has taken the plunge?
The 1979 (US) version says < Dearly beloved: We have come together in the
presence of God to witness and bless the joining together of this man and
this woman in Holy Matrimony. The bond and covenant of
marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ
adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding
in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between
Christ and his Church, >
So 'estate' is out, 'beautified' is replaced by 'adorned' and 'union' is
still there.
--
John Dean
Oxford
De-frag to reply
Richard R. Hershberger
You have one right, one and a half wrong: You are right about the
reunion/union bit (perhaps it was a second marriage?) (that was a
joke) but it is an estate which was beautified. This is from the 1662
Book of Common Prayer:
"DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God,
and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and
this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate,
instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us
the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy
estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first
miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee..."
Richard R. Hershberger
Adrian Bailey
Although I too would have found the choice of words somewhat odd,
afaiaa "reunion" and "union", and "estate" and "state" are just older
and younger versions of the same words. The pairing with "adorned"
suggests "beautified" is okay too.
Adrian
Gary Eickmeier
John Dean wrote:
Thanks very much to all who replied, especially John Dean here. I guess
I was wrong on two out of three. I just thought of an estate as a piece
of property, not a state of being.
Gary Eickmeier
Tim Scanlan
"John Dean" <john...@frag.lineone.net> wrote in message
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