Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church considers marriage, or holy matrimony, to be one of the seven sacraments. It is a covenant, or agreement, between a man and a woman, establishing a lifelong partnership that is ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. The sacrament of marriage is taken very seriously by the Church, which considers it to be indissoluble and forbids divorce and remarriage. While the Church does recognise marriages between non-Catholics or non-Christians, these are not considered sacramental and require permission from a bishop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "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" |
| First Official Declaration | 1184 Synod of Verona |
| Marriages Recognized by the Catholic Church | (1) Marriages between two baptized non-Catholic Christians, (2) Marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians and Catholic Christians |
| Marriages Not Recognized as Sacramental | Marriages between two non-Christians or those between a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian |
| Permission Required | Marriages between a Catholic Christian and a non-Christian require permission from the diocesan bishop, known as "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage" |
| Permission for Wedding Location | Weddings between a Catholic faithful and a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic church with permission from the Bishop or ordinary |
| Adultery and Polygamy | Opposed to the sacrament of matrimony as they contradict the equal dignity of man and woman and the unity and exclusivity of married love |
| Remarriage | Remarriage of persons divorced from a living, lawful spouse contravenes the plan and law of God as taught by Christ |
| Nature of the Sacrament | A sacramental marriage is a sign or symbol that reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated |
| Rituals and Prayers | Express visibly what God is doing invisibly |
| Total Union | By their permanent, faithful and exclusive giving to each other, symbolized in sexual intercourse, the couple reveals something of God’s unconditional love |
| Grace | A way of describing how God shares the divine life with us and gives us the help we need to live as followers of Christ |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract
Marriage is a sacrament for Catholics, a holy matrimony, and a covenant by which a man and woman establish a partnership for life. It is a permanent union of two persons capable of knowing, loving each other, and God.
The Catholic Church's recognition of marriage as a sacrament is rooted in history. In the 12th century, Pope Alexander III decreed that a marriage is formed by the free mutual consent of the spouses and not by the decision of their parents or guardians. The first official declaration that marriage is a sacrament was made at the 1184 Synod of Verona as part of a condemnation of Catharism, which taught that marriage and procreation are evil.
A covenant entails holiness, which is why marriage is referred to as "holy matrimony." Holiness means that the couple is set apart for a higher purpose and is special and unique. A covenant also involves moral virtue and fidelity to standards of ethics, which are not usually requisite in a contract. For example, a phone contract does not require one to be an honest, kind, and virtuous person, as long as the bill is paid on time. In contrast, a covenant requires both parties to maintain lives of virtue and to be quick to forgive when the other fails.
A contract says, "what's in it for me?" whereas a covenant asks, "what can I give or sacrifice for the sake of the other?" A contract is also about relational detachment and can continue even without intimacy or transparency. In contrast, a covenant involves the deepest openness and intimacy, as reflected in Genesis 2:25, "They were naked and not ashamed."
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The Catholic Church recognises some non-Catholic marriages as sacramental
The Catholic Church recognises marriage as a covenant, a permanent union between a husband and wife capable of knowing and loving each other and God. This union is also a liturgical act, usually held in public liturgy at church.
The Catholic Church recognises two types of marriages: natural (ordinary) marriage and supernatural (sacramental) marriage. Supernatural marriages exist only between baptised people, so marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic Christian and a non-baptised non-Christian are considered valid marriages but are not sacramental.
However, the Catholic Church does recognise some non-Catholic marriages as sacramental. For example, if two Lutherans marry in the Lutheran Church with a Lutheran minister, the Catholic Church considers this a valid sacrament of marriage. Similarly, if a Catholic marries a baptised non-Catholic Christian, such as an Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Baptist, their marriage is considered sacramental. In this case, the Catholic party must obtain consent from the diocesan bishop, known as "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage".
The Catholic Church also recognises marriages between two baptised Protestants in a Protestant Church as sacramental. This is because the couple themselves, not the priest, are considered the ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony. Therefore, the presence of an officiant, such as a priest, is primarily to have a witness who represents the authority acknowledging the marriage.
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Adultery and polygamy are sins
In the Catholic Church, marriage, also known as holy matrimony, is a "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life". It is a liturgical act, usually held in public liturgy at a church.
The Catholic Church considers adultery and polygamy to be grave sins. Adultery is considered an injustice, as it is an injury to the covenant of the marriage bond and a transgression of the other spouse. It undermines the institution of marriage by breaking the contract on which it is based and compromises the welfare of children. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines adultery as when "two partners commit adultery when they have sexual relations, even transient ones, while at least one of them is married to another party".
The Catechism also forbids polygamy as a grave offense against the institution of marriage, and contrary to the original plan of God and the equal dignity of human beings. Polygamy directly contradicts the nature of matrimony, which is a total, unique, and exclusive love between a man and a woman. While some Christian groups have historically practiced polygamy, and it was practiced by several biblical patriarchs, the Catholic Church has always considered it a sin.
The Catholic Church disapproves of lust, which is considered an excessive and irrational attachment to venereal pleasure. Lust is one of the seven capital sins, and its opposing virtue is chastity. The Church considers sex to be chaste only within the context of marriage, and therefore refers to it as the "nuptial act".
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Marriage is a lifelong union
Marriage in the Catholic Church, or holy matrimony, is a lifelong union between a man and a woman. It is a "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life". This covenant is a sacred bond, a relationship that is permanent and exclusive.
The Catholic Church takes the lifelong nature of marriage very seriously. The Church teaches that breaking this covenant goes against the natural law of God. Divorce and remarriage are not recognized by the Church, as it is believed that what God has joined together, no one can separate.
The sacrament of matrimony is more than just a contract; it is a liturgical act, a public display of the union between husband and wife, reflecting God's values and family values. It is a symbol of Christ's love for his bride, the Church. The love in a married relationship is a total gift of oneself to another, a self-giving and self-sacrificing love.
The Church recognizes marriages between two non-Catholic Christians, as well as marriages between a Catholic Christian and a non-Catholic Christian, although in the latter case, permission from a bishop is required. Marriages are ideally held in a Catholic church, but in the case of a mixed marriage, permission may be granted for the wedding to take place in a non-Catholic church.
The sacrament of marriage is a lifelong journey, and through it, spouses receive grace to navigate the ups and downs of married life. It is a call to holiness, where spouses are encouraged to grow in prayer and to live a life of virtue as followers of Christ.
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The sacrament of marriage brings grace to those involved
The Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a significant ritual in the Catholic Church, signifying a sacred covenant between a husband and wife. This covenant is more than a contract; it represents a permanent and exclusive bond, reflecting the unbreakable union of Christ and the Church. The grace bestowed upon the spouses through this sacrament empowers them to embody Christ's love for his bride, the Church, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church."
The Sacrament of Marriage is not merely a legal agreement but a spiritual covenant rooted in the divine plan. It is a public declaration of a couple's commitment to each other and their shared values, rooted in their faith in God. This liturgical act, celebrated within the Eucharistic Liturgy, is a testament to the couple's willingness to give themselves wholly and unconditionally to each other, mirroring God's unconditional love.
Through the grace of the sacrament, the human love between spouses is perfected and strengthened, fostering a lasting unity that sanctifies them on their journey towards eternal life. This grace provides spouses with the strength and guidance needed to navigate the joys and challenges of married life, enabling them to grow together and serve as a testament to the community that a loving and enduring marriage is achievable.
In the Catholic tradition, the Sacrament of Marriage is not just about the couple but also about the foundation of the family, often referred to as the "domestic church." It is through this sacrament that spouses are empowered to embrace their roles as parents, nurturing their children in the faith and values taught by the Church. The sacrament reinforces the belief in the indissolubility of marriage, emphasizing that a union established by God cannot be severed by divorce or any other means.
While the Sacrament of Marriage is a sacred covenant, it is important to recognize that the Catholic Church has specific requirements for its validity. For instance, in the case of a mixed marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, consent from the diocesan bishop, known as "dispensation to enter into a mixed marriage," is necessary. The Church also recognizes marriages between baptized non-Catholic Christians as sacramental, reflecting the inclusive nature of the sacrament.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a covenant or contract between a man and a woman, establishing a lifelong partnership to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love.
The first official declaration that marriage is a sacrament was made at the 1184 Synod of Verona. In 1208, Pope Innocent III required members of the Waldensians to recognize marriage as a sacrament to be accepted back into the Catholic Church.
The Church takes the lifelong nature of the Sacrament of Marriage seriously. It teaches that breaking this covenant goes against the natural law of God. The Church does not recognize civil remarriage after divorce from a lawful spouse.
The Sacrament of Marriage requires the free mutual consent of the spouses, not their parents or guardians. A mixed marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian requires permission from the diocesan bishop, while a marriage to a non-baptized person is considered invalid without dispensation.
