Holding hands and gazing into each others' eyes, 75 couples commemorating 25, 50 or 60 years of marriage renewed their vows in front of a packed congregation during the World Marriage Day Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Feb. 3.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, who celebrated the Mass, congratulated the couples, who he described as models for their families and for all young people today.

"Today we rejoice with all of you and your families because you have come a long way together with hope, with love, with great give and take, and great personal and family sacrifices," Cardinal Mahony said. "But when you see what you have accomplished and how far you've come you look back over those years, (and see that) the cumulative years are ones of joy."

The World Marriage Day Mass, coordinated for many years by the Office of Family Life, is typically scheduled closer to St. Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, but because of the early timing of Lent this year, the Mass was celebrated earlier to accommodate the Rite of Election scheduled for Feb. 10 at the cathedral. Of the 75 couples, more than 20 celebrated 50 years of marriage. Kuonan and Agnes Wang, parishioners of St. John Fisher in Rancho Palos Verdes, celebrated their 60th.

In his Homily, Cardinal Mahony also said that the qualities listed as "blessed" by Jesus in the beatitudes are the qualities necessary for a "good, strong, Christian marriage" and are the fruit of love and sacrifice.

"What is the result of the real sacrifices?" the cardinal asked. "It is a deepening love - a willingness to share all of the unknown and unseen problems of life. The ability to look at life together and to know that not only do they have many joys, but at times they are going to have upsets and trials, but to enter those together."

The cardinal likened the relationship of a father, mother and children to an earthly model of the eternal Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"Thank you for being the models of committed marriage and love that you are because our society needs committed models," he said. "As more and more couples don't bother with marriage, they are missing so much and especially Catholics are missing the Sacrament of Matrimony, which gives us the graces to live out our lives together."

After the homily, the cardinal led the couples in a renewal of vows and gave them a blessing.

Michele and Maria Martinelli, parishioners of Holy Name of Mary Parish, San Dimas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Mass. The couple came to the United States from Italy 42 years ago with their two children. Their children are now both married and the Martinelli's have six grandchildren who all attended the Mass and watched as the couple renewed their vows.

Maria said that the couple met, fell in love and married in three years. When asked why she decided to marry Michele 50 years ago, Maria's eyes shone with love and pride as she pulled out a black and white photo of her handsome husband in his youth that she keeps within easy reach in her purse.

Maria's advice for a good marriage: "A lot of patience, a lot of love and a lot of prayers. No praying, nothing can go."