The Sacrament of Matrimony

Helping Each Other Grow in Love God established marriage for: UNITYPROCREATION The focus of Matrimony for those who receive this sacrament is on others, not themselves. Ultimately, the purpose of marriage is to help couples and through them, and their children, attain eternal life.

An Intimate Communion Man and woman have been created as one, to be one. Original Sin ruptured this original communion. Man and woman pledge to love each other in Christ. Scriptures read during the Ceremony begin with the creation of man and woman and end with the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Understanding the Sacrament of Matrimony “It is not good for the man to be alone.” The Chosen People longed for the unity and indissolubility of marriage. Old Testament speaks of the sacredness of marriage in Ruth, Tobit, and Song of Songs. The history of marriage is affected by human sinfulness.

Marriage in the New Covenant  Christ taught that marriage was originally meant to be indissoluble.  Moses allowed divorce because of the “hardness of hearts” of the people. Polygamy was considered a form of adultery.  St Paul: relationship between a husband and wife takes on the same intimate relationship that Christ has with the Church – mutual gift of self.  Aquinas and Scotus: bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament.  Council of Trent: marriage confers grace.  The Protestant reformers did not accept marriage as a sacrament.  The Church does not accept divorce but can declare a marriage null or grant an annulment – it’s a declaration that what appeared to be a valid and binding marriage was not in fact one because there was a defect in the vows.

The Sacrament of Marriage Today Vatican II: only marriage between baptized Christians can be a sacrament Christian marriage is to help both spouses grow in spiritual perfection It is the means through which the couple serves the Church and society

Celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony Rite for Celebrating Marriage During Mass Rite for Celebrating Marriage Outside Mass Rite for Celebrating Between a Catholic and an Unbaptized Person The Church strongly recommends and often requires engaged couples to attend a marriage program before getting married.

Celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony: Marriage Consent and Vows Free Consent  Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?  Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?  Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?  I, N., take you, N., to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Exchange of Vows

Celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony  Blessing and Exchange of Rings  Nuptial Blessing  Holy Communion  Blessing at the End of Mass

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.

Communion between Spouses In marriage, man and woman become one. True communion between spouses is always fruitful. If sexual intimacy is to image God, it must always be faithful.

Communion in Christ Christian spouses share in the life of the Blessed Trinity so that they may be transformed by holiness and become more divine. Marriage becomes a way of discipleship.

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

The Graces of the Sacrament of Matrimony  Christian families can promote faith and evangelization, both at home and with others.  Christians families can help serve the needs of the parish.  Husbands and wives participate in the development of society by educating their children.  Christian families participate in politics, especially with a view to promoting and safeguarding family values in society.  Christian families work to build a more just and peaceful society.

Christian Marriage: A Sign of God’s Eternal Covenant with Humanity Matrimony is “a covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life.” “What God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

Openness to New Life Both husband and wife are open to the fertility that can result from their sexual union. Natural Family Planning: a Church- sanctioned method for spacing pregnancy.

The Unity of Marriage In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Sacramental marriage is an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence. Sacramental marriage is a sign of the future union between God and humanity.