The Sacrament of Matrimony and the Sacrament of Holy Orders are considered Sacraments of Vocations. The Sacrament of Matrimony is this week’s topic for our session.
Holy Matrimony is a sacrament and life-long commitment that joins one man and one woman. They create a covenant of love for the good of the spouses, the procreation and education of children. Spouses in a Christian marriage strengthen the love of Christ in each other. They become a sign of the love of Christ to those around them. Because marriage is a sacrament, the couple receives special graces to assume and fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of marriage - in “good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, until death.”
Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. (CCC 1642)
The outward sign of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the mutual consent given by the couple with the exchange of the wedding vows. The minister of the marriage is the couple themselves with the priest or deacon serving as the official witness for the Church. The husband, wife and God together form a covenant that is exclusive, permanent, unconditional and faithful.
This week's session will consider why the home or family is sometimes referred to as “The Domestic Church” and the characteristics of marital love. We will discuss declarations of nullity or “annulments” and other questions presented by our candidates and catechumens.
Christ performed His first miracle at a wedding feast - putting the seal of God’s approval on marriage. The love of husband and wife is worth celebrating! Each year as we near February 14th, All Saints celebrates our married couples with a renewal of marriage vows at the Saturday 5pm Mass. This is followed by an evening of food, music and socializing.
If you know a couple who reveals the love of Christ to others through their marriage, take the time to thank them for their strong example.