Sacraments: Matrimony
Now the partners are seen as equal.
-Be subordinate to one another -Married couples are signs of Christ's love for the Church -Two shall become one flesh: the great mystery
Gospel Reading
-themes: Love, Unity, Indissolubility, Christian Vocation; Beatitudes- happiness and spread of love
Marriage and the Old Covenant
-God continues to offer mercy to his people. The consequences of the first sin also became a means of healing. In marriage the need to work to sustain themselves and their families and the rearing of children necessitate that a man and a woman support each other through life -Law of Moses- to make sure wives weren't property -Prophets- exclusivity -The book of Ruth and the book of Tobit both describe a tender and exclusive married love -The Song of Songs- on the surface, a human love story- has traditionally been seen as a metaphor for God's covenantal love for his people(between the lover and the loved) -Jesus bridegroom to all humankind
First Reading
-Hebrew Scripture -Themes: Unconditional, Love, Sacrifice, Faithfulness; Genesis- man and woman become one flesh
Openness to children
-Husbands and wives must be open to children and accept them as gifts from God. Artificial contraception is a sin against the openness to new life. It is intrinsically evil because it makes procreation impossible. The essence of conjugal love is total self-gift to the other, and using contraception, a refusal to be open to the possibility of new life, makes the gift a lie.
Can a married couple separate?
-If, for serous reasons a couple can no longer live together in harmony, they may separate. However, a separated husband and wife are still married and may not contract another union. The ultimate goal of a separation is reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to the matrimonial covenant
3 Elements essential to a Marriage
-Indissolubility -Openness to children -Unity
The Wedding at Cana/divorce/children
-Jesus' presence at the wedding affirmed the goodness of marriage(his blessings upon it) and revealed that the Sacrament of Martimony, from then on, would be a sign of his presence -Jesus prohibited divorce, because marriage is a covenantal relationship, it can't be dissolved just like our covenantal relationship with God -Jesus demonstrated his love for children and stated that he Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them
Two qualities of the commitment withing the sacrament of M.
-Love each other -Procreation- cooperate in it
According to the USCCB, what are the two central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined?
-Marriage -Family
Importance of
-Marriage Preparation -The Domestic Church -The Gift of Children (Responsiblity)
Prepares the newly married couple for a lifelong journey of fidelity
-Marriage is a symbol of the fidelity of christ to his church -in this fidelity they proclaim the faithful love of God for all and can love each other because they share in God's love
Annulment
-Means that a true marriage bond, as a Sacrament, never existed in the eyes of the Church(free consent was never given), so the marriage is seen as null or void -the children are not orphans -not the same as a civil divorce; They have gone against God's law, but they are still members of the church that can't receive the Eucharist Can attend mass and teach the word of God to their children, and strengthened their relationship with God
2nd Reading
-N.T non Gospel -Themes: Unity, Sacrifice, Openness, Love; Romans- talks about sacrifice, and focusing on your spouse; Corinthians- abstaining from sex until marriage
Covenant
-OT: God/Humanity -NT: Christ/Church -Husband/Wife
The Gift of Children
-Parents have to be ready to take responsibility of the growth and education, especially in morality and the spiritual life -As far as possible, parents are called to notice and to nurture these gifts and talents that their children have. -Those couples unable to bring children into the world can still live a meaningful married life, in love of others, in hospitable welcome to friends and neighbors, as adoptive parents or mentors, and of sacrificial love for those in need.
Indissolubility
-The marriage bond can never be dissolved. The husband and wife make a commitment to lifelong fidelity. Divorcing one's lawful spouse and marrying another person is a sin against the permanence of Marriage
In the east
-The role of the priest is to be the minister in giving the blessing which is required and to witness the consent of the bride and groom
Domestic Church
-The sacrament of M. is the foundation for the christian family. The christian family is the place where children first learn the love of God through the love of their parents -The family is the domestic church- church at home- where children first hear the Gospel Routine family prayers, learning satisfaction of work through chores -families are the backbone and lifeblood of the church
Sacrament of Matrimony
-a lifelong convenat, modeled on that between Christ and the Church, in which a baptized man and a baptized woman make an exclusive and permanent commitment to faithfully love each other and to cooperate in the procreation and education of children -through its graces, brings humans love to fulfillment to unbroken unity
What is nuptial blessing?
-a special blessing at the wedding mass prayed after the Lord's prayer
Sacrament of M. establishes the matrimonial covenant as a religious action..
-an act of worship, and emphasizes that in this action and as a result of it, God's love will be shared not only between the married couple but also with the community
Constratint
-an obstacle that prevents free and full consent to a marriage, so there is no valid marriage bond; why the church requires a period of preparation before a marriage, often with some kind of assessment to determine a couple's readiness ex. pregnancy, mental illness, or a secret addiction -legal barred: a person who has taken religious vows in the Church, or who is already married is not free to marry -Natural laws barres them: if there is a marriage between family members
The union of a baptized man and a baptized woman in Marriage is a sign
-and symbol of God's covenant with his people, a covenant with his people, a covenant of love and grace in Jesus Christ
Marriage and Matrimony
-are interchangeable terms
One type of Mixed marriage
-between a catholic and a baptized non-catholic
Disparity of cult within mixed marriage
-between a catholic and a non-baptized person
What does a sacramental marriage require?
-both have been baptized (man & woman)
Lifelong Commitment-> role of cross
-if you really believe in the paschal ministry the challenges you face can be redemptive
Consent
-is an essential element of the Sacrament of M. -it is the will of the man and woman to give themselves to each other in order to live a lifelong covenant of faithful love, and to be open to sharing that love with children- expressed in the vows of Matrimony, the priest or deacon then as the Church's witness, receives this consent, and gives the blessing of the Church
Preparing for a Catholic Marriage
-is more than preparing for a Catholic wedding, but sometimes they overlap -M eet with your parish priest as soon as you become engaged -P repare for your marriage. Set aside at least six months to give time not only to arrange the practical wedding details but also discussion and reflection on your relationship and your plans for the future. Also give time for prayer both individually and together -A ttend an approved marriage preparation program in your area(in response to growing divorce rate)- Natural family planning: something for the couple to talk about
The grace of the Sacrament of M.
-is the grace to bring the couple's love for each other to its fullness and to strengthen their bond with each other
God's plan for Marriage
-it is God's loving way of bringing happiness to his sons and daughters and assuring them that they need not be alone as they journey through life -Two great goods; -Jesus taught- Marriage cannot be dissolved because they become one flesh(he quoted from Genesis)
What does "Imago Dei" mean
-made in image of God -marriage is made/celebrated in imago dei, happiness in God through us from love for love
Unity
-marriage unites the husband and wife in an unbreakable and exclusive union. Adultery and polygamy are sins against the unity of marriage
In the west
-ministers of the sacrament of matrimony are the bride and groom, two other witnesses, and the assembly, the priest/deacon are the witness. -this is a union and celebration of their love, which only requires the priest to be present to confirm the sacrament
Two qualities that are necessary on the part of the couple
-mutual respect -mutual love
To be free when expressing consent means
-not being under constraint (coercion or pressure, even if subtle) -Not being barred from Marriage by any natural law or Church law
Saint Paul
-said that the wife should be subordinate to the husband in his letter to the Ephesians
Two great goods
-the good of man and woman pledged to each other(unity) -the procreation and education of children
Unconditional love
-the only basis for a lasting marriage
Matrimony Effects and Graces
1. Increase in love 2. Increase in Indissoluble unity 3. Increase in Fidelity 4. Increase in Fruitfulness/Fecundity 5. Sanctifies one another and the couple (increase holiness) on the way to eternal life
Unitive Love
= Procreative love
What are the topics of the three questions that precede the couple's consent?
Freely-Come freely? Faithful-Will love each other? Fruitfulness-Open to children?
Marriage is
a public vocation