3.2.6

Marriage

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Marriage

In the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacrament, a moment when those getting married are given special grace to help them fulfil their commitment.

Nuptial mass

Nuptial mass

  • If marriages take place during Mass, this is called a Nuptial Mass.
Importance of vows

Importance of vows

  • The main part of the ceremony is the exchange of vows where the couple promise to remain faithful to each other for life:
    • ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ [Matthew 19:5 NIV]
Features of the ceremony

Features of the ceremony

  • The priest and congregation act as witnesses to this commitment.
  • The priest blesses the marriage on behalf of God and the Church.
  • The couple also commits themselves to accept children and to raise them according to the ‘law of Christ and his Church’.
  • Catholics believe that God is also present when two people marry and that the Church blesses the union on God’s behalf.

Marriage and Catholic Life

For Catholics, marriage is said to be unitive and procreative: it unites the couple in a loving bond and provides a situation where children can be born and raised.

Marriage quote

Marriage quote

  • ‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole life, is by its nature ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of their offspring.’ [CCC 1601]
Heterosexual

Heterosexual

  • In Catholicism, marriage is only possible between a man and a woman.
Lifelong commitment

Lifelong commitment

  • It is also a lifelong commitment. Catholics do not allow divorce.
    • In some circumstances, marriages can be annulled (declared invalid) if at the time of the marriage one party did not enter into the commitment freely, or for some reason was not mature enough or in a state to make such a commitment.
Celibacy

Celibacy

  • Catholics believe that some people are called by God to live celibate lives (abstaining from marriage and sexual relations), sometimes as priests or as monks or nuns.
Other denominations

Other denominations

  • Marriage ceremonies form part of the practice of many other Christian denominations, but most of them do not consider marriage to be a sacrament.
Jump to other topics
1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on Marriage

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Features of the Catholic Marriage sacrament:True / false
  2. 2
    What do we call a Mass that involves a marriage ceremony?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What is the main part of the Catholic marriage sacrament?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Key features of Catholic marriages:True / false
  5. 5
    What does it mean to live a celibate life?Multiple choice
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Anointing of the Sick

Holy Orders