Joshua Bennett
Marriage is a significant topic within the Catholic Church, with a rich history of traditions and teachings. For Catholics, marriage is more than a contract; it is a sacrament and a lifelong commitment. The Church teaches that a married couple commits themselves entirely to each other until death, promising to remain faithful and open to having children. While the Church encourages lifelong marriage as the ideal, it also recognizes the challenges and complexities of modern dating culture, including the rise of serial monogamy and the negative impact of cohabitation before marriage. Catholics who feel called to marriage are expected to undergo preparation, typically lasting at least six months, to ensure they are ready to receive the sacrament. This includes understanding the spiritual significance of matrimony and the unique nature of Catholic marriage ceremonies. The Church also provides guidance for Catholics marrying non-Catholics, including the requirement for special dispensation from the local bishop.
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What You'll Learn
Catholic marriage is a lifelong partnership
Marriage is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church. It is a lifelong partnership between a man and a woman, and it is more than just a contract. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines marriage as a covenant, which is a sacred agreement between two people and God.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong partnership where the spouses are totally committed to one another until death. This is reflected in the wedding vows, where the couple promises to stay together "till death do us part". After the death of one spouse, the other is free to marry again or remain single.
The Church also teaches that the spouses become "one flesh" through their union, and their love requires unity and indissolubility. This means that their love should be definitive and not temporary. The spouses are called to grow continually in their communion through daily fidelity to their marriage promise of total mutual self-giving.
A valid Catholic marriage has four elements:
- The spouses are free to marry.
- They freely exchange their consent.
- In consenting to marry, they intend to marry for life, to be faithful to one another, and be open to having children.
- Their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.
The Catholic Church also recognizes mixed marriages, which are marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian or a non-Christian. These marriages are permitted as long as certain conditions are met. The local bishop can grant permission for these marriages, and they are recognized as valid by the Church.
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Marriage in the Catholic Church requires consent
A valid Catholic marriage results from four elements: the spouses must be free to marry; they must freely exchange their consent; in consenting to marry, they must intend to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to having children; and their consent must be given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister. If a couple wishes to marry outside of a Catholic church, they can seek permission from their local bishop to do so.
There are some impediments that prevent a Catholic marriage from being formed, although for some of these, dispensation can be given. These impediments include consanguinity to the fourth degree in the collateral line (first cousin), affinity (e.g. a mother-in-law), disparity of cult (where one party is not baptized), and crimen (one party previously conspiring to marry upon the condition of the death of their spouse).
The Catholic Church also recognizes marriages between two non-Catholics or between a Catholic and a non-Catholic as valid, but not sacramental. In the latter case, the Catholic party must seek permission from their bishop for the marriage to occur, which is called a "dispensation from disparity of cult". If a Catholic marries a non-baptized person, the marriage is not a sacrament. However, if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic Christian, the marriage is considered sacramental, but permission from the diocesan bishop, termed "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage", is still required.
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Catholics can marry non-Catholics with permission
The Catholic Church does allow Catholics to marry non-Catholics, but only with permission. Marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic are called "mixed marriages". These fall into two categories: sacramental and non-sacramental marriages. If a Catholic marries a baptised non-Catholic, the wedding is a sacrament. If a Catholic marries a non-baptised person, the wedding is not a sacrament.
A Catholic marrying a non-Catholic requires a dispensation from the bishop, which is easy to obtain. The priest will usually apply for this dispensation for the couple, who will still have to go through the full Catholic marriage preparation. The priest must meet with the couple to help them understand the spiritual importance of matrimony, which is often called "Pre-Cana". The Catholic must also promise to keep practising the Catholic faith and raise their children as Catholics.
The Catholic Church tries to accommodate mixed marriages and bless them. The local bishop can permit a wedding in another church or another suitable place, for a sufficient reason. For example, if a Catholic is marrying a Baptist whose father is the pastor of the local Baptist church, the bishop could permit the couple to marry in the Baptist church. This permission is called a "dispensation from canonical form".
In 1869, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith declared that, even if a couple met all the conditions for a valid marriage, there must be "some grave necessity, which cannot otherwise be avoided, for allowing the faithful to expose themselves to the grave dangers inherent in these unions".
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Mixed marriages are accommodated by the Church
Mixed marriages, or marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, are generally discouraged by the Catholic Church. However, the Church does accommodate such marriages and is willing to grant dispensations for Catholics wishing to marry non-Catholics.
If a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic Christian, they must seek permission from their local bishop. This is called a "permission to enter into a mixed marriage". If the non-Catholic partner is not a Christian, the permission is called a "dispensation from disparity of cult". In both cases, the Catholic party must declare their intention to continue practising the Catholic faith and promise to raise their children as Catholics.
The priest must receive this dispensation in writing from the bishop. The priest must also meet with the couple to help them understand the spiritual importance of matrimony. This meeting is often called "Pre-Cana", although this is an unofficial term. The wedding ceremony usually does not include a Mass to avoid the difficulty of many people being unable to receive the Eucharist. However, it can include a Mass if desired. The ordinary minister at a mixed marriage is an authorised priest or deacon, and the ordinary place of celebration is the parish church of the Catholic party. A non-Catholic minister may also attend the marriage ceremony and address, pray with, and bless the couple.
The Catholic Church recognises that mixed marriages have been the source of countless blessings for many lives. However, it is important to note that pastoral experience confirms that marriages between persons of different beliefs can involve special problems related to the continuing religious practice of the spouses and the religious education of their children.
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Marriage preparation is important for Catholics
Marriage is a big decision, and marriage preparation is crucial for Catholics. The Catholic Church treats marriage as a sacrament, and a lifelong commitment. The Church teaches that a married couple commits themselves totally to one another until death, and their vows are a promise to remain together "till death do us part".
The Catholic Church has specific requirements for a valid marriage, and marriage preparation helps couples to understand and meet these requirements. These include that the spouses are free to marry, they freely exchange their consent, they intend to marry for life, to be faithful, and be open to having children. Their consent must also be given in the presence of two witnesses and before an authorized Church minister. Understanding these requirements is essential for a Catholic marriage to be recognized by the Church.
Marriage preparation programs are offered by the Catholic Church through parish classes, online courses, and weekend retreats. These programs provide couples with the tools and skills needed to build a strong and joyful marriage. They cover a range of topics, including the theology of marriage, family planning, and the importance of prayer as a couple.
The length of marriage preparation can vary, with some dioceses requiring six months of preparation, including meetings with a priest or deacon, attendance at a marriage preparation conference, and premarital inventories or classes. Overall, marriage preparation is a vital step for Catholics intending to marry, as it ensures they are spiritually, emotionally, and practically ready for the sacrament of marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
A valid Catholic marriage has four elements: the spouses are free to marry, they freely exchange their consent, they intend to marry for life and be faithful and open to children, and their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and a Church minister.
Yes, a Catholic can marry a non-Catholic Christian or non-Christian with the permission of their local bishop. If the non-Catholic is baptised, the marriage is sacramental. If the non-Catholic is not baptised, the marriage is not sacramental.
Yes, a Catholic can marry outside of a Catholic church with permission from their local bishop.
The Catholic Church teaches that a married couple commits to each other totally until death. After the death of one spouse, the other is free to marry again.
