MARRIAGE—WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT…

JOURNAL QUESTION: If two people feel that they are truly in love, should there be any restrictions on whether or not they should get married? Or are there any requirements they must satisfy before getting married?

CUSTOMS & THEIR HERITAGE The Father of the Bride “giving away” the bride Origin: The father actually owned his daughter in Greco-Roman times and literally was giving her away. The Bride wearing a white garment Origin: This symbolized that the daughter was pure and a “good gift.”

The groom “waiting” for the bride to process to him Origin: The bride would process up to the groom’s house for him to take her over the threshold. The bride wearing a veil Origin: In early times, marriages were arranged and most grooms didn’t find out their brides until the ceremony itself.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? Your wedding is one day, while your marriage is a lifetime. However… Your wedding should reflect what you and your spouse understand your marriage to be. So… What does Holy Matrimony celebrate?

FOUR QUALITIES OF MATRIMONY MUTUAL SELF-GIVING Both spouses give of themselves freely to each other. This involves giving without expecting something in return. This is especially lived out in the couple’s sexual relationship with each other.

COVENANTAL FAITHFULNESS Covenant: A relationship that cannot be broken because the two parties are bound to each other. COVENANT ≠ CONTRACT This is why Catholic marriages can’t have prenuptial agreements. Even if one spouse is unfaithful? Yes. Think of God’s covenant with us. This requires permanence and constancy

BECOMING ONE’S REAL SELF Marriage should allow someone to become the TOTAL person God’s called them to be. A married person should become someone they never could have been w/o being married

CREATIVITY Marriage should bring something into this world that never existed before Think of the Trinity This requires that a married couple is OPEN to bringing children into the world This is also why sterility is an impediment to marriage

IN YOUR GROUPS… Prepare a questionnaire of at least five questions that you would ask the couple preparing for marriage. Outline at least three elements that you would include in a marriage preparation program. Be ready to turn this in at the end of class.