The Sacraments of Service: Matrimony and Holy Orders

Matrimony: “And a man shall leave his father and mother and become attached to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” -Genesis 2:23-24, Matthew 19:5

Background: Marriage was considered an important passage into adulthood in Judaism Beginning in Genesis, God reveals the purposes of marriage: Unitive---celebrate and enhance the love of husband and wife Procreative---to share in God’s creative act by bringing life into the world Always cherished in Christianity (cf. Hebrews) Further defined the Jewish understanding: Contract (limits on responsibility) vs. Covenant (no limits Indissolubility---divorce (legal decree) vs. annulment (conclusion by the Church that the marriage was not valid) “Husbands love your wives like Christ loved the Church” (Ephesians 5) Not officially pronounced a Sacrament until 1184 at the Council of Verona---in response to the heresy of Catharism (marriage and procreation were evil)

Sacramental Nature of Marriage The union of husband and wife mystically mirrors Christ’s love for His Church (Ephesians 5) The celebrants of the marriage are the bride and groom---the priest serves as a witness In the Catholic tradition, it is the spouses who are understood to confer marriage on each other. The spouses, as ministers of grace, naturally confer upon each other the sacrament of matrimony, expressing their consent before the church. This does not eliminate the need for church involvement in the marriage under normal circumstances, canon law requires for validity the attendance of the local bishop or parish priest (or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them) and at least two witnesses

The Four Elements of a Catholic Marriage The spouses are free to marry They freely exchange their consent In consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to children Their consent is given in the canonical form, i.e., in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized church minister.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders

Every Catholic, Baptized and Confirmed, is called to ministry---to serve others in the Name of Christ---lay ministry “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9) Some are called to particular ministry---”to minister to the ministers” -This calling is Holy Orders, and those called become ‘clergy’ at the time of ordination -It involves the administering of Sacraments

Holy orders in the Catholic Church includes three orders: Bishop (Episkipoi: “Overseers”; priests who can also administer the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation) Priest (Presbuteroi: “Elders”, who acts “in persona Christi”) Deacon (Diakanoi: “Servers”, ordained to service: Word, Liturgy, Service) In the phrase “Holy Orders“: “Holy" simply means "set apart for some purpose" “Order" (Latin: ordo) designates an established civil body or corporation with a hierarchy, and ordination means legal incorporation into an ordo

Reflection Questions Think about the practical differences between an understanding of marriage as a contract and marriage as a covenant? How would the marriages look different, and feel different? Every Christian is called to do ministry---to serve in the name of Jesus. What are the ways you serve, or could serve “in the Name of Jesus”? Is it always “churchy”? What questions do you have about the “Sacraments of Service”: Marriage and Holy Orders?