Sarah Mitchell
Chapter 9 of My Catholic Worship is titled “The Sacrament of Matrimony” and explores the Catholic Church's teachings on marriage. The chapter discusses the sacrament of marriage, its roots in the natural order, and its elevation by Jesus to the order of grace. It clarifies the distinction between Sacrament and non-Sacrament marriages and addresses annulments and the validity of marriage bonds. The chapter also examines marriage from God's perspective, highlighting its significance as a symbol of God's covenant with his people. Additionally, it delves into the roles of the bride and groom as ministers of the sacrament, challenging cultural traditions surrounding wedding processions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage in the Catholic Church | Sacrament |
| Who is the minister of the sacrament? | The bride and groom |
| Who confers the sacrament? | The spouses |
| Marriage | Part of the natural order |
| Marriage | Intended to be the most stable institution in society |
| Marriage | Can be fulfilling or hurtful |
| Marriage | Related to the well-being of individuals and society |
| Annulments | Addressed in the "Matrimonial Consent" section |
| Types of marriage | Two Catholics, a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, or two non-Catholic Christians |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage as a glorious and fulfilling relationship
Marriage is a glorious and fulfilling relationship that is intended to be the most stable institution in society. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the well-being of individuals and society is closely tied to the health of conjugal and family life.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, a visible and grace-giving sign of Christ's love for his people. The bride and groom are the ministers of this sacrament, reflected in the wedding liturgy and procession. This is true even when the marriage is between two non-Catholic Christians or two non-Catholic Christians and a Catholic.
The Bible is replete with marriage imagery, from Genesis to Revelation. It compares the love between God and his people to a marriage and the relationship between the soul and God to the relationship between spouses. Jesus himself is described as "the bridegroom" in the Gospel of Matthew.
While marriage can be a source of deep wounds and hurt for some, it is meant to be a glorious and fulfilling relationship. The Catholic Church's recognition of marriage as a sacrament underscores its importance and sacredness.
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Marriage as part of the natural order
Marriage is a highly valued institution in Catholic doctrine. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life".
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, a visible and grace-giving sign of Christ's love for his people. The bride and groom are the ministers of this sacrament, reflected in the wedding liturgy, including the procession. This is true even if the couple are non-Catholic Christians or not religious at all.
Marriage is intended to be the most stable institution in every society and, for many, it is the most glorious and fulfilling relationship in their lives. The Bible is full of marriage imagery, from Genesis to Revelation, and the love between God and his people is often likened to a marriage.
However, the Catholic Church recognises that marriage can also leave deep wounds and hurt. The Church offers annulments to those who have been divorced, allowing them to remarry within the Catholic Church.
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Marriage between two Catholics
Marriage is a sacrament, a visible and grace-giving sign, according to the Catholic Church. The bride and groom are the ministers of the sacrament, reflected in the wedding liturgy, including the procession. This is true for marriages between two Catholics, a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, or two non-Catholic Christians.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the spouses "mutually confer the sacrament upon one another by giving consent before the Church," mirroring Christ's love for his people. Theologically educated couples, in particular, are increasingly choosing to walk into their wedding Mass together, a practice that is gaining traction among converts as well.
The Bible is replete with marriage imagery, from Genesis to Revelation. The love between God and his followers is likened to a marital bond (Isa. 54:5), and the soul's relationship with God is likened to the relationship between spouses (Song of Songs 1:1-4). Jesus himself identifies as "the bridegroom" (Matt. 9:15).
While marriage is intended to be a stable and fulfilling institution, it can also result in deep wounds and hurt. Annulments and divorce can be confusing, but they will be addressed in the "Matrimonial Consent" section of Chapter 9. The well-being of individuals and society is closely tied to the health of conjugal and family life, according to the Catholic Church.
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Marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian
Marriage is a sacred and revered institution in Catholic doctrine, and the Church teaches that it is a sacrament, a visible and grace-giving sign of Christ's love for his people. The bride and groom are the ministers of this sacrament, reflected in the wedding liturgy and procession.
When it comes to marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, the Catholic Church recognises that marriage is part of God's original intention and, therefore, a part of the natural order. This means that even when two non-Catholic Christians marry outside of the Church, their union is still considered a sacrament.
For a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic Christian, the Catholic party must still observe the necessary canonical form. This includes obtaining permission from the bishop, usually through the parish priest, and promising to do their best to continue practising their faith and ensuring that any children from the union are raised Catholic.
The non-Catholic Christian party must be made aware of these promises and obligations and freely accept them. They are not required to convert or promise to raise their children Catholic, but they must be respectful of their spouse's religious practice and upbringing of their children in the Catholic faith.
In cases where a Catholic wishes to marry a non-Catholic Christian who was previously married and divorced, an annulment of the previous marriage may be required before the Catholic Church will recognise the new union. This process can be confusing, but it is addressed in the section on "Matrimonial Consent" in the Catholic doctrine.
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Annulments and divorce
The Catholic Church does not permit divorce for valid sacramental marriages. A sacramental marriage is impossible to dissolve, thereby making divorce impossible if the marriage was sacramental. The Church holds that marriage is a sacramental union of a man and a woman that can only be dissolved by the death of one of the spouses. However, the Church does recognise civil divorce and considers it necessary for the protection and care of spouses and their children in some cases.
The only way a divorced Catholic can lawfully remarry in the Church is by obtaining a Church annulment. An ecclesiastical annulment is a declaration by the Church that a marriage, which was thought to be valid, was not legally binding. This could be due to a defect in the consent given on the wedding day or a defect in the psychological capacity of one of the parties. When an annulment is granted, the Church does not deny that the marriage took place. However, it states that the legal contract on which it was based is invalid.
There are three areas in which a wedding may fail to bring about a valid marriage: lack of capacity, lack of consent, and lack of form. For a valid marriage, both parties must be capable of marriage. In addition, they must consent to marry for life, be faithful to one another, and be open to having and raising children. Their consent must also be given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorised Church minister.
The annulment procedure examines whether the union reached its fullness and became all that the Church believes a marriage to be. The Church believes that "marriage enjoys the favour of the law" and is, therefore, presumed to be valid unless proven otherwise. If a Catholic who has been married and divorced wants to remarry in the Church, an annulment is required. The Church requires a declaration of nullity in such cases to establish that an essential element was missing in the previous union, which prevented it from being a valid marriage.
It is important to note that the annulment process is not a Catholic divorce process. It is a determination of whether or not a marriage is valid. The Church considers all marriages valid, whether between Catholics, Lutherans, or a mix of religions. Marriages between baptised persons are considered sacramental. The Church recognises the marriages of non-Catholics and presumes them to be binding for life.
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Frequently asked questions
The sacrament of matrimony is the idea that marriage is a sacrament and a visible and grace-giving sign of Christ's love for his people.
The priest is not the minister of the sacrament in a Catholic marriage—the bride and groom are.
The Bible is full of marriage imagery, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. The love between God and his people is likened to a marriage.
Chapter 9 of "My Catholic Worship!" explores the sacrament of matrimony from the perspective of God. It discusses the different types of marriages, including those between two Catholics, a Catholic and a non-Catholic Christian, and two non-Catholic Christians.
The bride and groom's status as ministers of the sacrament is reflected in the wedding liturgy, including the procession, where they walk into the wedding mass together.
