MARRIAGE AS A SACRAMENT

And Yahweh the Lord said, It is not good for the man to
be alone, I am going to make a helper for him, and his
counterpart. And the rib which Yahweh the Lord had taken
from the man, he made into a woman and he brought her
to the man. And the man said, This is now bone of my
bones, and flesh of my flesh. She is called woman (Ishta)
because she was taken out of man (Ish). For this cause a
man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his
wife, and they shall become one flesh.
-Gen. 2: 18, 22-24

WEDDING FEAST AT CANA

(Jn 2:1-10)
Jesus is portrayed as
wedding guest, He
performed His 1st miracle
(changing water into
wine)

And Jesus answered them, and said, For this cause a man shall leave
his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God
has joined together, let no man separate. They said to him, Why then
did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and put her away.
Jesus replied to them, Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses
allowed you to put away your wives, but it was not so from the
beginning. And I tell you whoever put away his wife except in the case
of adultery, and marries another, commits adultery, and who ever
marries her who has been put away commits adultery.
-Mt. 19: 4-9

MARRIAGE
A civil contract between a
man and a woman.

HOLY MATRIMONY
A sacrament of the church.
A contract between man,
woman and Christ.
Lasts until the death of one
or the other partners.
Has much higher standards
than a civil marriage.

MARRIAGE AS A
SAVING GRACE
THE COUPLES
REFLECT THE
FATIHFULNESS
OF GOD TO HIS
COVENANT AND
CHRIST TO HIS
CHURCH

SACRAMENTAL MARRIAGE AS A
LITURGICAL ACT
IT MUST BE CELEBRATED
IN THE PUBLIC LITURGY
OF THE CHURCH
THE PUBLIC CHARACTER
OF THE CONSENT
HELPS THE FAITHFUL
TO REMAIN FAITHFUL

THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE TAKES

PLACE DURING THE MASS
THIS IS TO EMPHASIZE THE CONNECTION
OF THE SACRAMENTS WITH THE PASCHAL
MYSTERY OF CHRIST

Rite of celebrating during

mass usual way
baptized Catholics
celebrate
Liturgy of the Word (appropriate
scriptural passages are read)
Homily may focus on marriage as
sacrament of Christs love for His
bride, Church, dignity of married
love and responsibilities of married
couple

Rite of celebrating during mass

usual way baptized Catholics
celebrate
Actual rite priest addresses the couple
My dear friends, you have come together in
this church so that the Lord may seal and
strengthen your love in the presence of the
Churchs minister and this community. Christ
abundantly blesses this love. He has
already consecrated you in baptism and
now He enriches and strengthens you by a
special sacrament so that you may assume
the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting
fidelity. And so, in the presence of the
Church, I ask you to state your intentions.

Rite of celebrating during

mass usual way baptized
Catholics celebrate
Priest poses questions to couple
confirming that they are entering into
marriage freely, they promise to love
and be faithful to each other and they
are willing to accept the possibility of
having children and responsibility to
raise them as good Catholic
Christians.
presider invites man & woman to
declare their free consent

Rite of celebrating during

mass usual way baptized
Catholics celebrate
General intercessory prayers
preparation of gifs
Liturgy of the Eucharist
After Our Father before Holy
Communion, priest gives nuptial
blessing
Final blessing (includes blessing for
bride and groom)

Rite for celebrating

marriage outside mass and
rite of celebrating between
Catholic and unbaptized
person are the same as rite
for celebrating marriage
w/in mass except that
Eucharist is not celebrated.

FORM: exchange of MARITAL

VOWS in presence of whole
community
MATTER: WEDDING RINGS are
blessed and worn by couple
MINISTER
Couple
Priest is just a witness

EFFECTS:
Christs love sanctifies the love of the
husband and wife.
Once the marriage is consummated, an
irrevocable, perpetual, and exclusive bond
results between the spouses who freely
consented to become lifelong partners.
Their relationship is covenantal, not
simply contractual, in which the Lord
showers His graces to perfect their love
and strengthen their unity.

EFFECTS:
A major fruit of their life in common is
the welcoming of children God may send
them. Their life together, along with their
efforts to rear and educate their children
in a family setting, is the primary means
for a married couple to attain holiness.