What is Matrimony?
The union of a man and woman in the Catholic Church, signifying their life long love and commitment to one another
The ministers of the sacrament
The bride and the groom are the mindsets of the sacrament in the presence of the Church as a witness
Who can enter into Holy Matrimony?
Each spouse must be baptized without any impediment to enter the sacrament of Holy Matrimony
If one spouse is not baptized, they may still be married, however it is not the sacrament of Holy Matrimony- this is called a natural marriage
If one spouse is not baptized, they may still be married, however it is not the sacrament of Holy Matrimony- this is called a natural marriage
How many times can someone enter into the sacrament of Holy Matrimony?
Once and to one spouse as long as that spouse is living
If one spouse dies, the other spouse may validly marry again
If one spouse dies, the other spouse may validly marry again
Form
"I___, take you, _____, to be my wife/ husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and cherish you all the days of my life"
Matter
- Mutual consent to live together as husband and wife
- consummation of the marriage
Rite
The couple saying their vows and saying "I do." while putting rings on each others fingers and promising to be true to each other no matter what, loving each other all the days of their lives
Effects of Holy Matrimony
- The two become "one-flesh"
- Perpetual and exclusive covenant partnership
- Free, total, faithful, and, fruitful nuptial love
Marriage Readings
1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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This reading lists out all the different characteristics of love. Saying love should be patient, kind, comforting, respectful, honest, and for ever. This reading reminds the couple of all the important parts of love and can help them to have a true and successful marriage for the rest of their lives. This verse also reminds the couple not to act childish during their marriage- that childish actions or thoughts can ruin a relationship between a husband and a wife.
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1 John 4:16-19 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By thisis love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us
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This reading is reminding married couples that within each marriage God is at the center. No two people in love are without God; for where there is love there is God and his perfect ways. This reading also reminds couples that there is no fear in love. For the powers of love and God destroy fear. Lastly, God is the reason to why as humans we are able to love and be loved.
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Ruth 1:16-17"Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." |
This reading is showing the devotion and love a man/ woman has to his/her spouse; that a person will never leave their spouse, will settle down with their spouse, will grow in faith and worship God together etc. This shows how wrong the love and bond between a husband and wife should be. A bond that will only be broken at the time of death when they are separated.
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