Holy Matrimony

The Three States of Life There are three states in the Church to which a special sacredness attaches: 1. The Sacerdotal State: founded on the sacrament of Holy Orders (Latin sacerdos = “priest”) 2. The Religious State: composed of those who are bound by the three vows of religion (poverty, chastity, obedience); these are monks (and fraters!) and nuns. 3. The Married State: those united by the bonds of holy matrimony.

Marriage rooted in Nature At the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-23): 1. marriage is a holy state: it was instituted by God; 2. marriage is a contract between one man and one woman (The Unity of Marriage); 3. the marriage contract cannot be dissolved by the contracting parties: God joined them, God alone can tear them apart (The Indissolubility of Marriage); 4. The primary object of marriage is to preserve and increase the human race (children); 5. The wife is the companion and helpmate of man, not his slave (“alas, she is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh”)

Assault on Marriage Because of original sin, the integrity of marriage was harmed: Impurity and sexual immorality in its most degrading forms; Impurity and sexual immorality in its most degrading forms; Contempt for women (as an object of pleasure); Contempt for women (as an object of pleasure); Neglect of the child (children seen as a curse rather than a blessing); Neglect of the child (children seen as a curse rather than a blessing); Polygamy was widespread (affected the Unity of Marriage); Polygamy was widespread (affected the Unity of Marriage); Divorce (affected the Indissolubility of Marriage) Divorce (affected the Indissolubility of Marriage)

Christ Heals Marriage by Grace Christ elevates marriage (a natural right) to the level of a sacrament (supernatural grace). The perfect example: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Restored the two chief characteristics of marriage: 1. Unity (of 1 man and 1 woman) 2. Indissolubility (no divorce) Christ condemns divorce and then proceeds to bless the little children (Mark 10:2-16).

Holy Matrimony Definition: the sacrament by which a Christian (baptized) man and woman bind themselves together forever as husband and wife, and receive grace to carry out their duties faithfully until death. Matter and Form: the words or signs which express the consent of the contracting parties, i.e., the Vows. Matter and Form: the words or signs which express the consent of the contracting parties, i.e., the Vows. Both parties must freely express their consent. Both parties must freely express their consent. Minister: not the priest, but the contracting parties themselves! Minister: not the priest, but the contracting parties themselves! Saint Valentine, martyr

Proper Canonical Form In order for a marriage to be valid, three things must be done in order to observe Proper Canonical Form: 1. The Contracting Parties must freely give their consent; 2. Before a minister of the Church (Bishop, Priest, or Deacon) who receives their consent in the name of the Church; 3. In front of two witnesses.

Matrimonial Consent Matrimonial consent: an act of will by which a man and a woman mutually give and accept one another for the purpose of establishing a marriage. Matrimonial consent: an act of will by which a man and a woman mutually give and accept one another for the purpose of establishing a marriage. The man gives himself over to the woman, and accepts the woman to be his wife until death. The man gives himself over to the woman, and accepts the woman to be his wife until death. Likewise, the woman gives herself over to the man, and accepts the man to be her husband until death. Likewise, the woman gives herself over to the man, and accepts the man to be her husband until death.

Ratified and Consummated In order for a marriage to be valid, it must be both (1) Ratified and (2) Consummated. Ratified: when has been observed. Consummated: when the spouses have engaged together in a conjugal act in itself apt for the generation of offspring. Conjugal Act: (sexual act, or marriage act) to this act marriage is by its nature ordered and by it the spouses become “one flesh”.

Canon Law n “If the spouses have lived together after the celebration of their marriage, consummation is presumed until the contrary is proven.”

The 2 Ends/Goals of Marriage 1. Unity of the spouses: for their mutual help, support, and growth in holiness. 2. Procreation and Education of Children: the perfection of marriage is the family. ===================== Education means the moral and religious training children receive from the parents. Education means the moral and religious training children receive from the parents. The sexual act has as its primary goal in nature the conception of new life. The sexual act has as its primary goal in nature the conception of new life. Anything which willfully interferes with the procreative act (i.e., contraception) is mortally sinful. Anything which willfully interferes with the procreative act (i.e., contraception) is mortally sinful.

Matrimonial Impediments

Impediments Matrimonial Impediment: renders a person incapable of validly contracting a marriage. Matrimonial Impediment: renders a person incapable of validly contracting a marriage. 3 impediments reserved to the Holy See (the Pope): 1. impediment arising from (major) Holy Orders; 2. impediment arising from the public vow of chastity (monks, nuns); 3. crime A dispensation is NEVER GIVEN from the impediment of consanguinity in the (1) direct line or in the (2) second degree of the collateral line!!! A dispensation is NEVER GIVEN from the impediment of consanguinity in the (1) direct line or in the (2) second degree of the collateral line!!!

#1: Age A man must complete his 16 th year, and a woman must complete her 14 th year.

#2: Antecedent and perpetual impotence to have sexual intercourse, whether on the part of the man or on that of the woman, whether absolute or relative, by its very nature invalidates marriage!

#3: A previous marriage bond even if not consummated, invalidly attempts marriage.

#4: Disparity of Cult one of the two persons was baptized in the Catholic Church and the other was not baptized.

#5: Holy Orders Sub-Deacons and up are bound by the law of clerical celibacy

#6: Vow of Chastity Consecrated men and women (monks and nuns) bound by a permanent public vow of religion

#7: Abduction No marriage can exist between a man and a woman who has been abducted, or at least detained, with a view to contracting a marriage with her, unless the woman, after she has been separated from her abductor and established in a safe and free place, chooses marriage of her own accord.

#8: Crime One who, with a view to entering marriage with a particular person, has killed that person’s spouse, or his or her own spouse.

#9: Consanguinity All degrees of the direct line, whether ascending or descending; in the collateral line, it is invalid up to the fourth degree inclusive.

#10 Adoption Legally related cannot validly marry each other if their relationship is in the direct line or in the second degree of the collateral line.