Sunday, Sept. 22, would have been a beautiful day for a wedding. Instead, some of the longest-married couples in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois gathered that first day of autumn for a celebration of their many years as husbands and wives.

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated the Mass for couples married 50 years or more, held this year as always at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Approximately 140 couples and their guests — about 400 people in all — traveled from throughout the diocese to attend the annual Mass.

At the gathering, just over 20 of the couples were celebrating five decades of marriage in 2013 while many of the participants had been married 50- or 60-something odd years. A few of the couples exchanged wedding vows 70 or more years ago. Several of the longest-wed made their way into the Cathedral with canes and walkers, helping one another up the long church aisles.

Bishop Paprocki greeted the couples, acknowledging that he appreciated their commitment to each other in a sacrament that is so important to the church. "Your fidelity to one another for more than half a century is a powerful witness to the entire church of the beauty of the vocation of matrimony and is a symbol of the love that Christ has for his church," he said as he began his homily.

He spoke of another long-married couple from Ohio, Harold and Ruth Knapke, who passed away within 11 hours of one another on Aug. 11. "Their story is a very appropriate one for us today as all of you celebrate the gift of love that has united you with your spouses in the bond of holy matrimony," he said.

"It is hopefully a reminder of the many unique and special ways in which that love has been manifested in your marriages over the past 50 years or more," he said. "At the same time, this story provides some insightful reflections on this gift of the sacrament of matrimony and its meaning within the church."

Marriage is a gift to be shared, Bishop Paprocki said. "The story of Harold and Ruth ... offers some insight into how they shared this gift with one another as evidenced by the longevity of their marriage and their staying close to one another until their dying day.

"But there is another way in which they shared this gift. They shared it with their children. When interviewed about their parents one of the daughters explained that 'they were so committed and loyal and dedicated, that they weren't going to go anywhere without the other one.'

"This example shows how Harold and Ruth's fidelity to one another had an impact on their children," he said. "They must have learned a great deal of what marriage and commitment are supposed to be like because of the witness given to them by their parents."

Marriage is meant to be a vehicle through which the Good News of the Gospel is communicated, first and foremost through the witness of life, Bishop Paprocki said. "The church is most grateful for the role you have played in spreading the Gospel through that witness, and you are to be commended for being good stewards of the sacred gift of holy matrimony that the Lord has given to you.

"... Let us pray that your witness will continue to encourage and inspire other couples, and indeed all people, to follow your example, that all might be renewed in their vocation and persevere in their journey toward eternal life in heaven," he said at the conclusion of his homily.

Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Paprocki was Father John Nolan, pastor of Cathedral Parish. Father Brian Alford was the master of ceremonies. Deacon Patrick O'Toole, formerly of the Office for Marriage and Family Life, was the deacon. Carlos Tejeda, director of the Office for Marriage and Family Life, was the cross bearer. Acolytes were Nicholas and Justin Montrey of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham, who came with their grandparents, Richard and Margaret Montrey, who were celebrating 50 years of marriage at the Mass.

Music for the celebration, which included an hour of music and singing in advance of the Mass, was provided by the Diocesan Choir, directed by Nichol DelGiorno. Lou Ann Mack was the cantor. Following Mass many of the couples waited in line to have pictures taken with Bishop Paprocki and then attended a light reception in their honor.

The Mass for long-married couples is prepared by the Office for Marriage and Family Life with the assistance of the Office for Worship and the Catechumenate. It is funded by the contributions of the people of the diocese to the Annual Catholic Services Appeal.