About Betrothal
(Part 2)👆👇
- Gathering concious and abstinence - After accepting eachother and making a promise, they are expected to focus on their weeding program and future marriage life. In doing so, it is recomended to be at public place instead of private place; as others will monitor them so they won't fall in adultery. Also, except giving spiritual greetings, lip-to-lip kissing is not allowed as it is a type of adultery.
Instead of kissing, true love can be expressed trough helping each other in thought and action, respect, trust and appreciation. Also, supporting each other in their spiritual lives, going to church regularly, receiving Holy Communion individually, and waiting for their wedding day with purity.
In general, if we notice the positive criteria we have seen above in our partner during our courtship, we will live the life we have imagined. On the other hand, if it is not as we thought or if it is out of balance, without wasting more time, we quickly get it out of our hearts and look for someone else who is worthy of us. For this, we put our hope in God and believe and study patiently until he gives us the person he has prepared for us. But here, we must try to have all the standard points that we want to see in that person.
Things Not to Do During Engagement
- Living together often and not spending the night together - being together in a place where there is no one or no one is exposed to temptation and exposure.
- Avoid excessive play and talk - It is necessary to be careful not to engage in excessive talk and play, i.e. flirting and stimulating physical feelings and unnecessary kissing and flirting. "The eve of fornication is the eve of adultery, and the eve of adultery is a joke and mockery."
- Sex is prohibited during courtship. Because 1) According to the Church, pre-marital circumcision is adultery; 2) Because betrothal is not marriage, 3) Because betrothal is a journey and not a destination, 4) Because it is premature loss of virginity, 5) Because accidental pregnancy disrupts the goals of life, 6) Because it causes other great sins such as abortion and stillbirth, in the future marriage, 7) Because it deprives a partner and the dignity and happiness of marriage,
- Incorrect measurement. Not being bound by wealth, beauty, fame and favors, or being driven by emotions; Since marriage covers three-fourths of our life, we should not be subject to our mind, but to our emotions.
- Swearing: Betrothal is a promise. Because hope may or may not be fulfilled, it is a complete mistake to be convinced that denial is impossible i.e do not swear.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us.
Amen.
©John's Repentance
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