MARRIAGE
Marriage is for the good of the individuals and of society as a whole. Thus, it is part of the order of God’s Creation for all humanity. Between a baptised man and woman, the institution of marriage was raised by Christ the Lord to the level of a sacrament. That means it is an action of Jesus Himself and in marriage we receive His grace to live out our marriage and family lives.
The Purposes of Marriage:
There are two inherent purposes of marriage: the mutual welfare and support of the couple, and the procreation and upbringing of children. To be a valid marriage, the couple cannot deliberately exclude either of these purposes. Marriage is about love – you must be certain that is the man/woman whom you want to spend the rest of your life with. Marriage is also about openness to receiving children as a gift from God. The physical relationship between a couple is something beautiful and precious – but to be reserved for marriage so children can be brought up in a loving and stable home.
The Properties of Marriage:
1. Unity: Marriage is between one man and one woman. A husband and wife have a legitimate claim to each other’s time and affection. There must be mutual trust and commitment in an exclusive relationship founded on love.
2. Indissolubility: At the wedding ceremony you take vows “till death do us part”. Christ taught that marriage is for life and the Catholic Church upholds His teaching.
These are difficult commitments to make. That is why we need the grace of the sacrament and the strength gained from living a Christian life. A marriage celebrated after proper prayer and preparation and in accordance with the teaching of the Church, is the most beautiful state of life and something which brings life and true joy to this world and contributes towards the eternal happiness of the whole family. A good Christian family is at the heart of all parish life.
Preparation for Marriage:
Frequently asked questions:
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder,” (Matthew 19:6)
Marriage is for the good of the individuals and of society as a whole. Thus, it is part of the order of God’s Creation for all humanity. Between a baptised man and woman, the institution of marriage was raised by Christ the Lord to the level of a sacrament. That means it is an action of Jesus Himself and in marriage we receive His grace to live out our marriage and family lives.
The Purposes of Marriage:
There are two inherent purposes of marriage: the mutual welfare and support of the couple, and the procreation and upbringing of children. To be a valid marriage, the couple cannot deliberately exclude either of these purposes. Marriage is about love – you must be certain that is the man/woman whom you want to spend the rest of your life with. Marriage is also about openness to receiving children as a gift from God. The physical relationship between a couple is something beautiful and precious – but to be reserved for marriage so children can be brought up in a loving and stable home.
The Properties of Marriage:
1. Unity: Marriage is between one man and one woman. A husband and wife have a legitimate claim to each other’s time and affection. There must be mutual trust and commitment in an exclusive relationship founded on love.
2. Indissolubility: At the wedding ceremony you take vows “till death do us part”. Christ taught that marriage is for life and the Catholic Church upholds His teaching.
These are difficult commitments to make. That is why we need the grace of the sacrament and the strength gained from living a Christian life. A marriage celebrated after proper prayer and preparation and in accordance with the teaching of the Church, is the most beautiful state of life and something which brings life and true joy to this world and contributes towards the eternal happiness of the whole family. A good Christian family is at the heart of all parish life.
Preparation for Marriage:
- Do not make commitments, for example booking a reception venue, until you have spoken to the priest and established that you are able to marry in church on the date you want.
- You must give the priest at least six months’ notice of your intention to marry.
- You need to complete certain documentation giving evidence that you are baptised and free to marry, i.e. neither of you are in a marriage which is still existing in the eyes of the Church.
- You need to attend a marriage preparation course – the priest will give you details when you make your first appointment with him.
- You need to comply with the civil requirements for a marriage. It is your responsibility to obtain the necessary certificate/licence from the local authority. The wedding cannot take place without this.
- The marriage will normally take place in the parish church of the bride or the groom. To marry at St. Gregory's at least one of you must be a Catholic connected to the parish.
Frequently asked questions:
- What if one of us has been married before?
- What if you want to marry a non-Catholic or a non-Christian?
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder,” (Matthew 19:6)
