Michael Brooks
Marriage in the Catholic Church, also known as holy matrimony, is a covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, and that a married couple commits themselves totally to one another until death. The vows they make to each other in the wedding rite are a commitment til death do us part. While the Catholic Church does not permit divorce for valid sacramental marriages, it does recognize marriages between two baptized non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians. Virginity before marriage was praised by Cyprian and other prominent Christian figures and leaders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Virginity | The Catholic Church historically taught that virginity is superior to marriage. |
| Marriage | Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and divorce is not permitted for valid sacramental marriages. |
| Annulment | The Catholic Church may grant an annulment if a marriage is deemed invalid. |
| Prayer | Couples are encouraged to pray together to strengthen their marriage. |
| Consent | For a valid Catholic marriage, spouses must freely exchange their consent and intend to marry for life. |
| Mixed Marriages | Catholics are forbidden to enter mixed marriages without permission from a Church authority. |
| Non-Sacramental Marriages | Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians are non-sacramental but may be valid in the eyes of the Church with permission. |
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What You'll Learn
Virginity praised over marriage in early Catholic Church
Virginity has been praised over marriage in the Catholic Church since its early days. The Catholic Church has always considered the state of virginity or celibacy preferable to the state of marriage. This belief is supported by the 16th-century Council of Trent's doctrine, which states that "it is more blessed to remain virgin or celibate than to be joined in marriage."
The early Church accepted the teaching on the superiority of virginity over marriage expressed by St. Paul in the First Letter to the Corinthians. In the second part (Chapters 7–15), St. Paul gave general instructions concerning marriage and virginity, holding up marriage as an antidote to sexual impurity. St. Paul wished everyone were single and celibate like himself, but he acknowledged that each person has their own gift from God. He made a concession for those who do not have the gift of celibacy. St. John Chrysostom wrote, “Whoever condemns marriage also deprives virginity of its glory; whereas whoever praises it makes virginity more attractive and luminous."
Virgin martyrs in the first few centuries of the Catholic Church were martyred for their refusal to marry, not just their belief in Christ. Cyprian (c. 200–258) and other prominent Christian figures and leaders praised virginity. The Catholic Church has always valued virginity, seeing it as a commitment to abstain from sexual intercourse to preserve the virtue of chastity. Consecrated virginity is valued because it is seen as a way to give oneself completely to God.
The Catholic Church recognizes the marriages of two baptized non-Catholic Christians and marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians with the consent of the diocesan bishop. In the 12th century, Pope Alexander III decreed that marriage was formed by the free mutual consent of spouses, not their parents or guardians. Today, Catholics are forbidden to enter mixed marriages without permission from a Church authority.
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Marriage in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church teaches that a valid Catholic marriage results from four elements: the spouses must be free to marry; they must freely exchange their consent; 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.
The Church's rules regarding marriage preparation and the wedding ceremony itself are strict and should be followed closely. Firstly, after getting engaged, the couple should contact their church before doing anything else. Most churches require at least six months of preparation before the wedding, and some require more. The marriage ceremony must take place within a ""sacred space", meaning it must be held in a church. If both parties are Catholic, the ceremony must happen within a Catholic Church. If one party is not Catholic, the wedding can take place in a non-Catholic church with the permission of the local bishop.
The Catholic Church recognizes as sacramental the marriages between two non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians, although in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained. This is called "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage". Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians are valid in the eyes of the Church but are non-sacramental. With permission, a priest or deacon may witness such marriages. If a Catholic wishes to marry in a place outside of the Catholic Church, the local bishop can permit this for a sufficient reason.
While it is not required for a non-Catholic spouse to convert to Catholicism for the marriage to be recognized by the Church, the Catholic spouse is obligated to raise their children as Catholics.
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Catholics marrying non-Catholics
Catholicism has a rich history of traditions and rituals surrounding marriage. While the Church has long held that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, there are also specific rules and guidelines for Catholics who wish to marry someone outside of the faith.
Firstly, it is important to note that the Catholic Church does allow Catholics to marry non-Catholics. However, it is not encouraged and is considered a "mixed marriage". In the past, the Church was even reluctant to permit such unions, only granting dispensations to avoid greater evils or in cases of grave necessity. Today, the Church still requires special permission for these marriages, which is called a dispensation and is given by the local bishop. This permission is typically granted as long as the Catholic spouse agrees to remain committed to the Catholic faith and raise any children in the Catholic Church.
The wedding ceremony for a Catholic-non-Catholic couple must take place within a "sacred space". If the non-Catholic spouse is validly baptised, the marriage is considered sacramental, and the ceremony can be held in a Catholic Church or a non-Catholic church with permission from the local bishop. If the non-Catholic spouse is not baptised, the marriage is considered non-sacramental, and the ceremony must still take place in a church but cannot include the Eucharist or other Catholic rituals.
It is important to note that the Catholic spouse must make a solemn promise to raise any children in the Catholic faith, but this does not mean that the non-Catholic spouse is excluded from their religious upbringing. While the non-Catholic spouse is not required to convert, they can still play a role in teaching their children about their Catholic parent's faith.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Catholic Church has specific rules for marriage preparation, which typically requires at least six months of counselling with a priest or deacon. This preparation is important for any Catholic couple, but it is especially crucial for mixed marriages to ensure that both spouses understand the spiritual significance of matrimony and the unique challenges they may face due to their religious differences.
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Divorce and remarriage
According to Catholic doctrine, a sacramental marriage is impossible to dissolve, rendering divorce impermissible. In Mark 10:9, Jesus states, "Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." Thus, the Church views divorce as a grave violation of the sacred union.
However, the Church does recognize the necessity of civil divorce in certain situations, particularly in abusive relationships. In such cases, although legally separated, the spouses are still considered married in the eyes of the Church, and any remarriage without an annulment is not recognized.
Annulment is the Church's process of determining the validity of a sacramental marriage. If an annulment is granted, it signifies that the marriage was invalid from the outset due to pre-existing conditions, such as one partner being forced to marry. It is not equivalent to divorce but rather establishes that a sacramental union never existed.
The Church emphasizes that those who have undergone divorce and remarriage outside the Church are still beloved members of God's family. While they are encouraged to refrain from receiving the sacraments until their situation is remedied, the Church strives to accompany them on a path of discernment and spiritual guidance.
In rare cases, the Pauline Privilege allows for the dissolution of a sacramental marriage if it remains unconsummated or under "weighty reasons." Additionally, convalidation is a process where a civilly remarried couple can contract a new, valid marriage after obtaining a declaration of nullity for their previous marriage(s).
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Valid vs. invalid Catholic marriages
For Catholics, marriage is a sacrament and a covenant by which a man and woman establish a partnership for the entirety of their lives. The Catholic Church considers a marriage valid if it is between two baptised persons. The Church also recognises marriages between two non-Catholic Christians as well as marriages between non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians as valid.
For a Catholic marriage to be valid, it must be celebrated in a particular form. This means that there is a specific way in which the wedding must take place for Catholics to marry validly. The marriage must be contracted before a local ordinary, pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, and before two witnesses. The location of the marriage is not important for its validity; what matters is who the wedding is contracted before. This rule only applies when one of the parties is Catholic; if it is not followed by a Catholic party, the marriage is invalid.
A Catholic marriage is also only considered valid if both parties have valid consent. This means that both parties must consent freely to the marriage, and this consent must include all the essential properties of marriage, including monogamy, fidelity, permanence, and openness to children. This consent is usually presumed to have been given in the marriage ceremony unless there is evidence to the contrary.
If a Catholic has married outside the Church without a dispensation, their marriage is considered invalid. However, this can be corrected using a canon law procedure known as radical sanation, which does not require the couple to go through a new marriage ceremony. For a radical sanation to take place, several conditions must be met, including that both parties must have valid matrimonial consent.
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic marriage, also known as holy matrimony, is a covenant between a man and a woman, establishing a partnership for life, and is ordered by nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.
A valid Catholic marriage is one in which: 1) the spouses are free to marry; 2) they freely exchange their consent; 3) in consenting to marry, they intend to be faithful to one another and be open to having children; and 4) their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.
Yes, Catholics can marry non-Catholics with permission from the local bishop. If the non-Catholic is a baptized Christian, this permission is called a "permission to enter into a mixed marriage". If the non-Catholic is not a Christian, the permission is called a "dispensation from disparity of cult."
While there is no explicit rule in the Catholic Church prohibiting sex before marriage, the Church teaches that virginity is superior to marriage, and that celibacy is more blessed than being joined in marriage. Therefore, it is implied that Catholics should remain celibate until marriage.
The Catholic Church does not permit divorce for valid sacramental marriages. A sacramental marriage is considered a union joined by God, and therefore cannot be dissolved. However, the Church does grant annulments in cases where the marriage is found to be invalid, such as when one partner is unfit to commit to a lifetime relationship.
