Marriage

KEY READING

Goldberg Textbook - Religion: Contexts and Expressions pg. 266

A Holy Union

A marriage is a public declaration of love and commitment. This declaration is made in front of friends and family in a church ceremony.

Christians believe that marriage is a gift from God, one that should not be taken for granted. It is the right atmosphere to engage in sexual relations and to build a family life. Getting married in a church, in front of God, is very important.

Christian marriage draws on three ideas from Genesis:

Humans are relational people and therefore intimate relationships are fulfilled in marriage
Children are a gift
While they are not the sole purpose of marriage, children should be loved and accepted as an outcome of marriage.

The Purpose of Marriage

Catholics consider marriage to be a sacrament – an effective, visible sign of God’s grace – which tells of God’s faithful and creative love and makes it real in that couple’s lives. As a sacrament of the Church, ‘holy matrimony’ consecrates human love, sexuality, and procreation to a higher purpose.

The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is God's doing: "God himself is the author of marriage", which is his way of showing love for those he created. Because a marriage is a divine institution it can never be broken, even if the partners are legally divorced: as long as they are both alive, the Church considers them bound together by God.

What key beliefs are reinforced by this ritual?

Indissoluble in the eyes of the Church
The "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”
"The Church attaches great importance to Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ's presence.” (Catechism)

A complete list of beliefs and rules around marriage can be found in the Catechism

Part Two (The Celebration Of The Christian Mystery), Section Two (The Seven Sacraments Of The Church), Chapter Three (The Sacraments At The Service Of Communion), Article 7 (The Sacrament Of Matrimony)

“Marriage is a (com)union of LIFE and LOVE, designed by God, which is:

Full and Intimate,

Freely given,

Faithfully lived,

Forever,

For the good of spouses,

For children”

(Archdiocese of Hobart, 2020)

Key Actions of the Sacrament of Marriage

Introductory Rites
The Liturgy Of The Word
- Old Testament or New Testament Reading
- Responsorial Psalm (sung, if possible)
- Gospel Acclamation (sung, if possible)
- Gospel
- Homily
Giving Of Consent
Blessing And Giving Of Rings
Prayers Of The Faithful
Preparation Of The Offerings (Bread And Wine)
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Nuptial Blessing
Sign Of Peace - Communion
Solemn Blessing Over The Couple
Signing Of The Marriage Register
Recessional

Key Symbols of the Sacrament of Marriage

The rings - unity, completeness and eternal love for one another. An outward symbol of an internal bond.
The Bridal Veil - varied beliefs, pagan rituals were to veil the bride from evil spirits. Other believe symbolises modesty, purity, reverence for God - a reminder of the Temple veil which was torn in two when Christ died on the cross. Through marriage, the couple now has full access to one another.
The Bride in white - The white gown is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the color of perfection. It is a symbol of the wife’s purity in reverence to God.
Unity Candle - two candles to remind the couple that it is their duty as a couple, to remind each other of God's light in their world. The candles symbolize a spiritual willingness to receive Christ who will bless them through his sacrament.
Bible - signifies the couple's dedication and promise to discuss and learn about God and spread his message to the world. It symbolises Christ’s marriage and service to the Church
Groom entering first - Ephesians 5:23-32 reveals that earthly marriages are a picture of the church’s’ union with Christ. God initiated the relationship through Christ, who called and came for his bride, the church. Christ is the groom, who established the blood covenant first initiated by God. For this reason, the groom enters the church first

What is the change of status at the conclusion of the ritual?

Presentation of the Couple

When the minister introduces the couple to the wedding guests, he is drawing attention to their new identity and the name change brought about through their marriage.

Similarly, in the blood covenant, the two parties would exchange some part of their names. In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a new name, Abraham, by adding letters from his own name, Yahweh

Pronouncement of Husband and Wife

The pronouncement officially declares that the bride and groom are now husband and wife. This moment establishes the exact beginning of their covenant. The two are now one in the eyes of God

New identity in the community

The couple now have a new identity in society, as a united partnership. This new identity is acknowledged in both a religious and social (legal) sense.

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