1. THE SACRAMENTS THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

2. Sacrament of Matrimony The Catholic Understanding of Marriage  A sign of God calling a man and woman to holiness through ordinary married life  A vocation written into our nature  A permanent, exclusive love relationship  True committed love brings forth life  Requires the virtues of faithfulness until death and openness to children The Catholic Understanding of Marriage  A sign of God calling a man and woman to holiness through ordinary married life  A vocation written into our nature  A permanent, exclusive love relationship  True committed love brings forth life  Requires the virtues of faithfulness until death and openness to children

3. The Catholic Understanding of Marriage  The bride and groom are the ministers  Sexual sharing must take place according to God’s two-fold plan:  it must be unitive – a powerful sign that binds the couple as lifelong partners  it must be procreative – open to sharing in God’s creative activity  The family is the domestic Church  Marriage is meant to be indissoluble  The bride and groom are the ministers  Sexual sharing must take place according to God’s two-fold plan:  it must be unitive – a powerful sign that binds the couple as lifelong partners  it must be procreative – open to sharing in God’s creative activity  The family is the domestic Church  Marriage is meant to be indissoluble

4. Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony  Because it is a covenant, it is valid for life  Christ gives the husband and wife graces they need to live lovingly each day  If Christ blesses the marriage with children, he helps the parents to raise and educate them in a Christian family setting  Because it is a covenant, it is valid for life  Christ gives the husband and wife graces they need to live lovingly each day  If Christ blesses the marriage with children, he helps the parents to raise and educate them in a Christian family setting

5. The Graces of the Sacrament of Matrimony The loving and faithful relationship between a husband and wife is now the visible sign of the loving and faithful relationship between Christ and his Church. The graces of the sacrament help the spouses grow in love and holiness as they meet the challenges of daily life.

6. Family Communion Matrimony helps Christian families mirror the love between Christ and his Church so completely that the family actually becomes a domestic church.