Emeritus Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, His Eminence, Cardinal Arinze has described marriage as original ideology from God, which says that the father and mother shall live together for production of the offspring.
His Eminence Cardinal Arinze made this known on Saturday 19th December, 2020 during a Royal wedding between the Traditional Rurer of Mbaukwu Kingdom His Majesty Igwe P.N Anugwu and wife, Her Majesty, Ocheze Virginia Anugwu at St. Dominic Catholic Church Mbaukwu Awka South Council Area of Anambra state.
In his sermon during the wedding mass, Cardinal Arinze explained that if marriage was not designed by the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ and the mother, Virgin Mary would not have gone to a wedding ceremony where he turned water to wine, a first miracle attributed to Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Holy books.
He described One man one wife as original word of God and not a doctrine of the church, further added that it is dependent and incumbent on the church to enforce it and prayed God to forgive the sins the couple had committed by living together without wedding even as he prayed God to bless the newly wedded with blessings of the Sacraments.
Our correspondent Udoka Nwokoye reports that His Eminence described St. Dominion’s Church Auditorium as one of the biggest Church Auditorium he has visited and also commended Igwe of Mbaukwu for his numerous contributions and commitments to the church over the years as evidenced in church building projects and community development, and declared that the wedding has enabled the newly wedded to be eligible to receive the Sacraments of Holy communion.
A highly elated Monarch, His Majesty Igwe P.N Anugwu, who was led to podium by his best man, Igwe Roland Udegbo of Nteje who wore a black suit and stripped black and red Tie, in his brief remarks immediately after the exchange of marrital vows with the Wife, thanked His Eminence, Cardinal Arinze for what he described as blessings from Vatican in availing the first family his time, blessing and presence and also prayed God to reward him abundantly.
Exchanging of Marital vows between the couple herald with 21 Cannon shots, receiving the Sacraments of Holy communion, group photography with His Eminence and key Government officials including Traditional Rulers who were the Men On Suits and Tie were some of the memorable Sights and sound that stood the wedding out from other usual wedding and was attended by the Governor of Anambra State, represented by the State head of Service, Barr Harry Uduh.
Also Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, His Lordship Rt. Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, His Grace Most Rev Alex Ibezim represented by Rev. Chido, State Chairman Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, Reverend Fathers, Rev Sister, members of Cabinets were some of other key dignitaries spotted at wedding mass while reception was held at Igwe Palace later on on that day.
