Couples say love, patience and keeping God in marriage help them stay together

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Standard) -- Before there was World War II, there was Mary and Albert Baumgartner. Married at St. Peter's Church in Waldorf on October 17, 1936, this year will mark the couple's 70th wedding anniversary.

On Sunday, June 11, the Baumgartners gathered with over 570 other couples from around the archdiocese for the marriage jubilarian celebration at the Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Among the couples marking milestone anniversaries were both of the Baumgartners' sons; Ray and his wife Patricia, celebrating their 35th anniversary, and Donald and his wife Monica who were marking 30 years of marriage. Albert Baumgartner, 92, said the secret to a successful marriage is "lots of love, patience and understanding." "Never end the day on a quarrel," added Mary Baumgartner, 90. Faith also played an important role in their marriage. Longtime parishioners at St. Ignatius in Oxon Hill, Albert Baumgartner played the organ at the parish for over 20 years. The Baumgartners raised three children including Ray Baumgartner who proposed to his wife at the Shrine. Ray said he learned to stick with each other from watching his parents. Ray Baumgartner described marriage as a marathon requiring endurance, not something to be rushed through. His brother Donald agreed, noting that his parents showed a lot of love between them. "They are always sticking it out - always working together," Donald Baumgartner said. For Mary Baumgartner who lost her only daughter last year, faith is the most important thing in life. "That's the one thing that gets you through - there's nothing else," Mary Baumgartner said. During the jubilarian celebration, Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick blessed the couples at the Shrine as they renewed their wedding vows to each other. Over 925 couples in the archdiocese registered with a jubilee anniversary this year - 485 couples said they are celebrating 50 or more years of marriage. In his homily, the prelate thanked all of the couples for their example of love to their families. "We know that God is in our marriages," Cardinal McCarrick said, "You are examples that God working with you can make you able to exude and spread your goodness, your happiness." This Mass is a chance to thank God for one another, for mutual love, for children, for all the joys, and being there for all the sorrows throughout each marriage, the cardinal told the couples, their families and friends. "We need to talk about marriage as a sacred institution," Cardinal McCarrick said. "You are the witness to that." The cardinal, who is retiring later this month, said it was a special treat to celebrate the wedding anniversary Mass. Three additional couples were celebrating milestone anniversaries alongside of children with 25-year anniversaries. Also three couples celebrating anniversaries had sons who are priests in the archdiocese. Cardinal McCarrick thanked those parents for their support of vocations. Earlier Cardinal McCarrick walked among the pews greeting the couples who are celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 50-plus years of marriage. Mary Lou Drittler, celebrating 50 years of marriage to Davin Drittler, said it takes "tolerance and a little bit of love," for a successful marriage. "Don't be too young and be sure you know what you are getting into," Mary Lou Drittler advised. Parishioners from St. John the Baptist in Silver Spring, her husband agreed, adding "don't live together" before marriage and that a good marriage takes "patience." Fellow St. John's parishioners Dick and Mary Ann Austing were also celebrating their golden anniversary. In addition to having good examples from their own parents, faith also plays an important role. "God is part of this," Mary Ann Austing said. "We learned that 50 years ago, and we still subscribe to that. We pray together everyday."

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