Celebrating the Sacrament
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Eucharist and Penance (1621-1622)
In the Latin Rite, marriage between two Catholics usually takes place during Mass. The spouses should seal their consent to each other in Christ's offering and should receive the Body and Blood of Christ so they might be "one body" in Christ.
Because marriage is a sacramental action which should be both valid and fruitful, the spouses should receive the sacrament of Penance.
Rule of the Spouses (1623-1624)
In the Latin Church, the spouses are the ministers. They confer the sacrament on each other by their mutual consent. In Eastern liturgies, the priest is the minister of the sacrament (called "crowning"). After receiving their consent, the priest places crowns on each of the spouses as a sign of the Covenant.
The spouses receive the Holy Spirit as their Covenant seal and the ever-available source of strength.
A Free, Human Consent (1625-1628)
The parties are a baptized man and woman who are free to marry and who freely give their consent. They must not be under constraint nor be impeded by any law.
Their exchanging of consent is the indispensable element in making the marriage. Without consent, there is no marriage (Canon 1057, #1).
The consent ("I take you to be my husband" and "I take you to be my wife") must be a human act of mutual self-giving which binds the spouses and finds its fulfillment when the two "become one flesh" (Gen 2:24).
This consent must come from each person freely and not be coerced by grave fear (Canon 1103). Because no human power can substitute for this consent, a marriage is invalid where freedom is lacking (Canon 1057, #1).
Church Tribunal (1629)
For this reason (and others) a Church tribunal can declare as null a marriage entered into without the necessary freedom. Then, the spouses (having fulfilled any natural obligations) are free to marry.
Before a Priest and Two Witnesses (1630-1631)
The priest receives their consent and gives the Church's blessing. His presence (and that of the witnesses) shows that marriage is a Church reality.
The Church obliges people to be married before a priest and two witnesses because:
- Marriage should be celebrated in the Church's public liturgy
- Marriage bestows a Church order with rights and responsibilities
- There must be certainty about the state of life in the Church (the need for witnesses)
- The public character strengthens the consent and the spouses' fidelity
Marriage Preparation (1632)
Because consent must be freely given, marriage preparation has great importance. Although parents and families are the first teachers, the parish is God's family which transmits human and Christian values (so needed because of family breakdown). Young people need suitable instruction about the dignity of married love so they can have an honorable courtship and enter marriage freely.
Problems in a Mixed Marriage (1633-1634)
Frequently a Catholic wishes to marry a baptized non-Catholic or a non-baptized person.
Although spouses can overcome the problems arising from religious differences, the difficulties of mixed marriage should not be underestimated. The spouses will experience the historical separation of the Christian Churches in their own home.
When the spouse is not baptized, even greater problems can exist. There can be religious indifference or differences over the correct idea of marriages, and of the children's Christian education.
Duty of the Catholic (1635-1637)
A Catholic marrying a baptized non-Catholic needs Church permission. (Canon 1124) A Catholic marrying a non-baptized person needs a dispensation for the marriage to be valid (Canon 1086). This permission and dispensation are granted only when both parties accept the essential goals of marriage and when the Catholic party assumes the obligation of baptizing and educating the children in the Catholic faith (Canon 1125).
In some regions, churches have cooperated in preparing for a mixed marriage. This encourages respect for what separates them and helps couples to overcome religious differences.
Concerning a non-baptized spouse, Paul writes "The unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife and the unbelieving wife is consecrated by her husband" (1 Cor 7:14). Hopefully, the Catholic will have the joy of seeing his/her spouse freely convert to the Catholic Church.
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