Well we thought a church wedding would be possible. It certainly

Hearken, O children of law and devotion, to the words of Princess Michael of Kent, who speaks of the delicate intersection of faith, ceremony, and lineage. She recounts the desire for a church wedding, acknowledging that within the Catholic Church, such a union was possible, for her previous marriage had been annulled by Pope Paul VI. Yet, even amidst canonical permission, the path was complicated by the imperative that Catholic children must follow the faith of the Church. In this reflection lies the ancient teaching: that human desire, ritual, and divine law often converge in tension, demanding wisdom, foresight, and humility.

The words reveal the tension between personal longing and institutional requirement. Across centuries, rulers and nobles have navigated similar waters, balancing love, loyalty, and religious duty. From the union of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, whose marriage brought strife to kingdoms, to the careful arrangements of European royal houses, it is clear that ceremonies are never merely personal; they are entwined with law, faith, and the perpetuation of lineage. Princess Michael’s experience echoes this timeless truth: love and ceremony must sometimes yield to sacred and societal frameworks.

Consider the weight of annulment itself. To have a prior union annulled by the Pope is no small matter; it carries both spiritual authority and historical gravitas. Just as medieval brides and grooms sought papal dispensations to align marriage with the dictates of faith, Princess Michael’s situation demonstrates that ritual observance and divine recognition are central to the legitimacy and sanctity of union. The faithful recognize that marriage is both a human and a divine covenant, governed by rules that transcend personal desire.

Yet in this tension lies the lesson of prudence and adaptation. The impossibility of ensuring Catholic heirs from her marriage to Prince Michael did not diminish the devotion or the solemnity of their union; it merely shaped the way it was celebrated. The ancients taught that the heart must often bend to circumstance, and that wisdom lies not in rebellion alone, but in navigating the sacred and temporal with care, foresight, and respect.

O seekers of understanding, let this teaching resonate: the sacred rites of marriage are not merely personal acts, but intersections of law, faith, and tradition. To honor them requires both courage and humility, a willingness to negotiate the spaces between desire and duty, heart and institution. Princess Michael’s words illuminate the eternal balance between personal longing and the imperatives of history, culture, and religion.

Thus, O children, carry this counsel in your hearts: let your unions be mindful of both the spirit and the law, the heart and the tradition. For in the harmony of these forces lies the enduring strength and sanctity of marriage, ensuring that love, faith, and legacy are woven together in a tapestry both human and divine.