Calling it "The `I do' heard 'round the world," the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church, will bless 30,000 couples of different denominations Sat., Nov. 29, in Washington, D.C.
The blessing is for couples who have taken "pre-blessing" vows to be faithful to their spouses, to raise sexually pure children and to keep God at the heart of their marriage.Although the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium will only hold 60,000 people, at least 3.6 million people around the world will have their blessings sealed on that day, courtesy of satellite links, according to Chris Corcoran, public affairs director for the Unification Church of America.
But the blessing is not intended only for members of the Unification Church. And it's actually sponsored by a group formed specifically to promote purity in marriage and family life: The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
From states like Utah to countries like Africa, those who have already taken the vows and received a blessing are giving friends and acquaintances a "pre-blessing" in anticipation of the event. The goal is to give a pre-blessing to 360 million people worldwide by the year 2000, according to Wendy Stovall, Utah state director for the Unification Church.
"If I blessed you, you could go out and do the blessings," said Stovall.
She and her husband, Michael, received a similar blessing in 1982 - back when the ceremony was reserved only for members of the Unification Church. In 1992, it was opened to anyone who wants to promote sexual purity and the other points of the vows.
Her blessing, she said, "was a great sensation. It was the beginning and very definitely an important part of our good marriage and happy life."
Stovall, a native of Zimbabwe, had sent her photo in to the Rev. Moon for a marital match, which is common in the Unification Church. She received Michael's name in response, and they started writing, which continued for a couple of years. In 1982, the day before the mass blessing ceremony, she met Michael - her husband to be - for the first time. They were also married the next day.
"Even on receiving his first letter, I felt this was right," she said. "It was love at first sight of the letter. We have a very good marriage and are very happy."
Today, they are teaching their son and daughter to maintain their sexual purity before they each get married. Like the couples receiving the "pre-blessings" and those who will be prayed over by the Rev. Moon later this month, the Stovalls made four vows:
- "We rededicate our marriage to God, centered on true love.
- "We will be faithful in marriage forever to one spouse (no divorce, no adultery).
- "We will teach our children sexual purity before marriage (no premarital sex).
- "We want to join the worldwide 3.6 million blessings ceremony on Nov. 29. We affirm that this family can contribute to world peace through the ideals of the true family."
Participants in the blessing and pre-blessing sign formal documents that contain the four declarations.
"It's for anyone who chooses, any couple with an intact marriage who agrees with the principles," said Corcoran. "And these are very basic principles that any religion would agree on."
Taking part in the ceremony doesn't mean one wants to join the Unification Church, he said. "It means only that they agree marriage is sacred and that they will try to be a model family for their children and for their community."