Cardinal celebrates marriage with hundreds of couples

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has celebrated Mass in Westminster Cathedral for more than 600 couples marking significant anniversaries this year, writes Liz Dodd.

During his homily, the cardinal said he would “take all that I hear and celebrate today” to the upcoming synod on the family,   to take place in Rome in October.

He said families were crucial for teaching the faith and urged grandparents in particular to show children how to pray.

He also likened a stream he used to visit while on summer breaks in the Lake District to the refreshment offered to married couples by the Holy Spirit. 

“I would allow myself to be lulled by the sound of the water,” he said. “These are the ways in which we come to Jesus, in which we stay close to him. We dip into the living water of his grace, through the sacraments.”