Married By Surprise.

Two Young Spanish Lovers Succeed in Outwitting the Old Folks.

An extraordinary occurance has taken place in one of the principal churches of Madrid, in the parish of Santa Cruz, says the London Times. A priest had nearly finished his mass, and was in the act of pronouncing the sacramental words, “Ite, missa est,” when a young man aged twenty-one, and a beautiful girl of twenty suddenly approached the altar railing with three middle-aged men, and the young couple cried aloud, “We wish to be husband and wife. Here are our three witnesses.” Now, it seems that under the canonical laws still regulating marriages in Spain Roman Catholics can thus claim to be considered married by surprise if they are skillful enough to do so just after the priest has uttered the benediction at the close of mass. Formerly this stratagem was, as in this case, resorted to by young people whose parents opposed their union. When this occurred in the church of Santa Cruz a scene of confusion ensued. The priest retired to the sacristy and sent for police, who conducted the offenders and witnesses into the presence of the municipal judge. He declared the marriage valid, much to the delight of the young couple and to the intense disgust of the parents of both sides, who had resisted the union.

source: Western Templar of Honor
location: Madison, Wisconsin