Tea at Trianon: Matchmaking

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Matchmaking

I was intrigued when a friend sent me a link to an article on Catholic Exchange. It is about a group of mothers who are getting together online to help their children find potential spouses. In the history of western civilization, parents always played a role in the matchmaking process, and in many traditional cultures even now. The new mothers' group makes it clear that they are not about forcing their children into arranged marriages or anything like that. But since parents help their children in attaining to careers and academic success, then certainly it is also a duty of parents to provide some guidance and give assistance in the choice of spouse, a choice which can mean a lifetime of happiness or of misery. It is almost barbaric that we leave the most important decision our children will make to random encounters. Yes, there have been many happy marriages that happened "by chance" and there will continue to be, but I think that parents banding together to help each other and the young people is a very worthwhile endeavor. Share

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Love this idea---told a group about it last night---mothers loved it.....; February 3, 2008 at 7:22:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Yes, several people I have mentioned it to are quite interested. This is something that is really going to catch on.; February 3, 2008 at 1:26:00 PM EST
Brantigny said...: Absolutely this is a good idea. While we did not have a hand in my youngest daughter marriage, we insured that she went out with
the right man. He was and is a gentleman, cares for my daughter, provides her needs, and supports her. David receives from Genevieve the same in return. I am proud of them both and unlike Marie and Frank Barone we dont bother them or interfer.; February 4, 2008 at 1:36:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: That is wonderful, Richard, how you and your wife guided your daughter!; February 5, 2008 at 9:36:00 PM EST