Michael Brooks
Marriage in the Catholic Church, or holy matrimony, is a covenant in which a man and woman establish a lifelong partnership to procreate and educate their offspring. It is considered a sacrament, with the couple committing themselves totally to one another until death. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant, reflecting God's steadfast and exclusive love for his people, as described in the Bible. This concept of a covenant, or commitment, initiated by God, is seen in the relationship between God and the chosen people of Israel in the Old Testament. Catholic matrimonial law, based on Roman law, considers marriage a free mutual agreement or contract, and this understanding has influenced the marriage laws of many countries. While Catholic marriages are covenants, they are distinct from civil marriage contracts or prenuptial agreements, as they primarily focus on protecting the marriage and discouraging divorce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's view on marriage | A covenant by which a man and woman establish a lifelong partnership for their mutual benefit and the procreation and education of offspring |
| Catholic marriage | A sacrament, not just a contract |
| Catholic marriage covenant | Protects the marriage from the no-fault divorce culture that a marriage license or common-law marriage enrolls one into |
| Marriage covenant | A long-term legal contract, similar to a prenuptial agreement but with the purpose of protecting the marriage and discouraging divorce |
| Catholic Church's teaching on marriage | A married couple commits themselves totally to one another until death |
| Catholic Church's view on divorce | A validly contracted sacramental marriage is accompanied by divine ratification, creating a virtually indissoluble union until the couple consummate, after which the sacramental marriage is dissoluble only by the death of a spouse |
| Catholic Church's recognition of marriage | Recognizes as sacramental the marriages between two baptized non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic marriage is a sacrament
Catholic marriage, also known as holy matrimony, is a sacrament. It is a covenant by which a man and a woman enter into a lifelong partnership for their mutual benefit and the procreation and education of children. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that marriage is a community of life and love established by God and endowed by him with his laws. It is not a purely human institution but one that has been raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant, reflecting God's steadfast and exclusive love for his people, which should be modelled by a married couple in their loving union. This covenant is an invitation to enter into a relationship with God, as described in the Bible: "I will be your God, and you will be my people" (Exodus 19:5). Despite Israel's repeated straying from the covenant, God promises a new and everlasting covenant (Jeremiah 31).
In Catholic theology, a sacramental marriage is a virtually indissoluble union until consummation, after which it can only be dissolved by the death of a spouse. The wedding vows made by the couple reflect this commitment: "till death do us part". The Catholic Church recognises marriages between baptised non-Catholic Christians as sacramental, as well as marriages between baptised non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians with the consent of the diocesan bishop. Marriages between two non-Christians or a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian are recognised by the Church but are not considered sacramental and require permission from the bishop.
A Catholic marriage covenant is a long-term legal contract that discourages divorce. It is distinct from a prenuptial agreement as it seeks to protect the marriage rather than plan for divorce. Catholic marriages are already covenantal in nature, and signing a marriage covenant document would further protect the marriage from the no-fault divorce culture that a civil marriage license entails.
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Marriage covenant vs civil license
Marriage is a significant decision and a lifelong commitment. When it comes to the topic of "covenant marriage vs civil license" within the Catholic Church, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between the two concepts.
A Catholic marriage, also known as holy matrimony, is a sacred covenant. It is more than just a contract; it is a sacrament, a divine institution established by God. In the Catholic Church, marriage is viewed as a covenant in which a man and a woman establish a lifelong partnership, ordered towards their mutual good and the procreation and education of their children. This covenant is based on the biblical concept of God's steadfast and exclusive love, serving as a model for the loving union of a married couple.
On the other hand, a civil marriage license is a legal contract recognized by the state. It provides couples with certain rights, benefits, and protections under the law, such as lower taxes, simplified inheritance processes, and the sharing of employment benefits. While a civil marriage license may act as a de facto prenuptial agreement, it also allows for no-fault divorce, which some may argue encourages divorce.
One key distinction between a Catholic marriage covenant and a civil license is their approach to divorce. Catholic marriages are covenantal by nature, discouraging divorce. They are considered virtually indissoluble until consummated, and even after consummation, they can only be dissolved by the death of a spouse. In contrast, a civil marriage license provides legal grounds for divorce, making it a more flexible arrangement.
Additionally, the process of obtaining a marriage covenant versus a civil license differs. A Catholic marriage typically involves a religious ceremony presided over by a priest or bishop, following the rituals and traditions of the Catholic Church. On the other hand, obtaining a civil marriage license usually involves meeting the legal requirements of the state, such as obtaining a marriage certificate and fulfilling any necessary paperwork.
In conclusion, while both a marriage covenant and a civil license signify a commitment between two individuals, they differ in their underlying principles and legal implications. A Catholic marriage covenant emphasizes the sacred and indissoluble nature of the union, rooted in biblical teachings. In contrast, a civil license provides legal recognition and benefits under secular law, offering more flexibility in terms of divorce but potentially impacting the permanence that a Catholic marriage covenant upholds. Ultimately, the choice between a covenant marriage and a civil license depends on the couple's religious beliefs, values, and personal preferences.
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Marriage as a covenant is a biblical concept
The Bible describes God's covenant with his people as an invitation to a relationship in which "I will be your God and you will be my people" (Exodus 19:5). This covenant is a commitment initiated by God, and despite Israel's repeated straying, God always seeks to restore their original promise to each other (Jeremiah 22:9, Hosea 2:4, and Jeremiah 31).
In the Catholic tradition, marriage is more than a contract; it is a sacrament, a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. According to Catholic matrimonial law, influenced by Roman law, marriage is a free mutual agreement or contract. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that marriage is not merely a human institution but is established by God, who is the author of marriage.
The consent of the couple is crucial, as defined by Canon 1057.1, where a man and woman mutually give and accept each other through an irrevocable personal covenant, establishing a lifelong partnership. In Catholic theology, a sacramental marriage is considered virtually indissoluble until consummated and can only be dissolved by the death of a spouse.
A Catholic marriage covenant is seen as a way to protect the sanctity of marriage and discourage divorce, aligning with the biblical concept of covenant as a lifelong commitment.
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Consent is the efficient cause of marriage
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant, an ancient and rich biblical concept that describes God's steadfast and exclusive love for his people, which married couples should emulate. This covenant is a commitment that God initiates, as described in the Bible.
The importance of consent in marriage is highlighted by Jesus Christ, who elevates human marriage to a sacrament between two Christians by uniting himself with his mystical bride, the Church. In the Latin Rite, the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful usually occurs during Holy Mass, connecting all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ. Spouses seal their consent by offering their lives to each other, uniting with Christ's offering for the Church in the Eucharistic sacrifice. By receiving the Eucharist together, they symbolically become one body in Christ.
The Catholic Church recognizes the fundamental importance of consent in marriage, which has been a requirement since the first marriage in human history. Adam's consent to God regarding the matrimonial gift of Eve is evident in Genesis 2:23: "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Eve's consent is implied as she freely lived with Adam and raised a family.
Pope Alexander III decreed in the 12th century that marriage is based on the free mutual consent of the spouses, not their parents or guardians. This led to a rise in clandestine marriages and youthful elopements, which were acknowledged as valid by the Church. Today, the Catholic Church requires that, for a marriage to be valid, the spouses must be free to marry, freely exchange consent, intend to marry for life, be faithful, and be open to having children. Their consent must also be given in the canonical form, witnessed by two people and authorized by a church minister.
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Catholic Church's view of non-Catholic marriages
The Catholic Church has specific requirements for a marriage to be considered valid in its eyes. A valid Catholic marriage has 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, and be open to having children; and their consent must be given in the presence of two witnesses and a properly authorized Church minister. If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, they must obtain permission from the local bishop for the marriage to be recognized by the Church. This is called "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage" if the non-Catholic is a Christian, and "dispensation from disparity of cult" if the non-Catholic is a non-Christian.
The Catholic Church recognizes marriages between two non-Catholic Christians as sacramental, as well as marriages between a Catholic Christian and a non-Catholic Christian. In the latter case, the marriage is only considered sacramental if the diocesan bishop gives consent. For example, if two Lutherans marry in a Lutheran church, the Catholic Church recognizes this as a valid sacrament of marriage. Marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian are recognized by the Church, but they are not considered sacramental. In these cases, the Catholic party must seek permission from the bishop for the marriage to occur.
Weddings between two Catholics are usually held in a Catholic church, while weddings between a Catholic and a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church with the permission of the bishop. If a Catholic wishes to marry outside the Catholic church, they should approach their pastor to ensure that the marriage is recognized as valid by the Church.
In general, marriages between non-Catholics, regardless of religion, are considered valid by the Catholic Church. However, there are two types of marriage: natural (ordinary) marriage and supernatural (sacramental) marriage. Supernatural marriages only exist between baptized people, so marriages between non-Christians are only considered natural marriages. Marriages between two Protestants or two Eastern Orthodox Christians are considered supernatural marriages and are thus indissoluble.
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Frequently asked questions
Marriage in the Catholic Church, also known as holy matrimony, is the "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". Catholic matrimonial law, based on Roman law, views marriage as a free mutual agreement or contract.
A covenant marriage is a long-term legal contract. It is similar to a prenuptial agreement but with a different nature as it seeks to protect the marriage and discourage divorce.
Yes, a Catholic marriage is a covenant marriage. Catholic marriages are already covenantal and discourage divorce.
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