Part Two: Philosophy of the Engagement Ring

Part Two of my Philosophy on Engagement Rings. 

 

Just as the man and the woman are themselves unique, and the relationship through which they find their hearts intertwined is entirely their own, so too the diamond ring is one-of-a-kind. This ring unites something of the giver and something of the wearer. 

Many times, when one admires an engagement ring, the comment is made that the ring “suits” the woman. It becomes her, symbolizes a personal and special relationship in which only she and her lover partake. Sometimes the ring is so unique, the stone is not even a traditional diamond. This matters not. The ring is a symbol of a particular love, and as such, can be any stone. However, the focus of this philosophy rests on the diamond ring. 

Some engagement rings are fashioned of yellow gold, symbolizing the richness of love. Some are composed of white gold, a metal that has been refined in the fire until perfected. Gold itself is a softer metal, representing the softness of hearts open to transformation by love, both from their beloved and from God. Still other rings are fashioned of platinum, signifying the priceless value and strength of love. 

The diamond itself is held secure by a setting of prongs. These prongs portray the hands of God Himself, holding secure the love between two hearts, providing a firm foundation for their life’s journey together. Regardless of where life may take a couple, they may place their hope and trust in a God whose providence is certain. 

The diamond itself is colorless, yet draws into itself the colors of its environment, embellishing them with its own fire and shine. Love too adapts itself to particular circumstances and to a specific person, drawing out the best possibilities in each. A lover yearns for the perfection and fulfillment of his beloved to the greatest degree possible, willing to sacrifice his own pleasure for the sake of the other.
 

The hardness of the diamond is indicative of the endurance, perseverance, and strength of the bond of love. A love founded upon true Love will encounter the trials and tribulations of life without wavering, placing all things in perspective in light of the eternal Truth. 

The diamond is the more desirable based on its purity, the lack of any taint or blemish. The beloved is likewise made more lovely by a pure and chaste heart. Chaste charity is alone the proper foundation for a marriage that will grow and become fruitful. Perfection, however, is never demanded of the beloved, for she is loved as she is. However, two hearts standing before the Lord each present the other to Him, asking that He perfect as His will dictates. 

Purity goes hand-in-hand with clarity. A diamond is held more precious depending on its clarity. The lover must strive to be transparent, free from ulterior motives or manipulations, but ever seeking simply the best good of the beloved. 

Clarity also indicates the presence of wisdom, as love is not blind. To the contrary, the lover sees the faults, the weaknesses, the struggles, the effort, and the successes, and loves anyways. For love is always a choice, an act of the will, to embrace another as they are, in the midst of desiring their best good. 

Transparency is intimately linked with humility. Far from refusing to acknowledge its faults and glorifying its strengths, the humble heart trusts that God had a perfect plan in its creation, embraces its weaknesses and strengths, and lives each day to the best of its ability, loving as only it can.
 

Another desirable aspect of the diamond is the light that radiates from its center. In this my own personal experience, the diamond sparkles all the more exquisitely inside a church. Something about the presence of the Eternal Light of the world inspires greater reflection of earthly light. In the same way, the more one receives the Eucharist—Love Himself—the greater one’s capacity to reflect His light to the world. The goal of lovers ought be for others to wonder what it is that they share in, that their faces shine so much. 

Some diamonds shine with such intensity, that it seems a fire burns within. Love itself burns as a raging flame (one need only meditate on the Sacred Heart for a moment to understand the beauty of such a truth). The flame purifies without destroying, unites without eradicating individuality. The more the two hearts immerse themselves within the intense fire burning in the Sacred Heart, the greater their purification, the more passionate their love, the more total their union. 

To Be Continued ...