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Holy Matrimony

What is the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony?

Marriage was instituted by God Himself in the Garden of Eden and restored to such - raised to the dignity of a Sacrament -- by Jesus Christ in the New Law. The Sacrament's external sign is the freely entered into contract made between a validly baptized man and validly baptized woman who intend to form a marriage and who have no impediments to marriage (or who have any required dispensations if an impediment exists). Like Holy Orders, once the Sacrament is received, it cannot be set aside; a valid sacramental marriage lasts until the death of one of the spouses.

The matter of the Sacrament is the mutual, freely-given consent of the man and woman before a priest and two witnesses. The man and woman are the actual ministers of the Sacrament, and the fruits of the Sacrament are the graces needed to raise a family and live up to the marital vows.

Impediments to a Sacramental Marriage

Impediments to a sacramental marriage are of two types: diriment impediments, which render an alleged marriage null and void or make a potential marriage impossible, and prohibitory impediments, which don't affect validity but liceity (i.e., its strict accordance with Canon Law) and require a dispensation first.

Give one or two examples of each kind.

If any of these impediments exist, the couple is bound to declare them.

Mixed Marriages

If a Catholic gets a dispensation to marry someone who is baptized but belongs to a schismatic or heretical sect, they are said to enter into a "mixed marriage."

Traditionally the Church requires three conditions for the issuing of a dispensation for a mixed marriage:

1. that the Catholic party be allowed free exercise of religion

2. that all the offspring are to be brought up Catholic

3. that the Catholic party promise to do all that is possible to convert the non-Catholic

Information for non-Catholic Guests

If you are invited to attend a traditional Catholic wedding, prepare for a long ceremony if the wedding will include a Mass (around 1 1/2 to 2 hours). Gifts, of course, are usually given to the couple at the reception that follows the wedding. Such Catholic items as Crucifixes, Holy Water fonts, etc. are always welcome, along with more secular household items.