WHAT IS MATRIMONY?
Holy Matrimony is a sacrament of communion and mission. This sacrament is where a couple vows to devote themselves entirely to each other. A sacramental marriage is focused on helping each spouse reach holiness and happiness in Christ. The ultimate goal of marriage is to get each other to Heaven! To complete this sacrament, a promise is made by a man and woman before God and the Church. This promise is accepted and confirmed by God and consummated by the bodily union of the couple. God is who forms the bond between these two people in the sacrament of marriage, so it is him binding until the death of one of the partners. This sacrament was instituted so that they might be "no longer two but one". In this way, they will become a sign of God, who is nothing but overflowing love. The ministers of this sacrament are the husband and wife in the fact that they will have mutual consent to be married to one another. The form of Holy Matrimony is " I ___________, take you, _____________, to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life." The matter for Matrimony is the mutual consent to live together as husband and wife in the marriage covenant and consummation of the sacrament. The rite of Matrimony starts with the rite or celebration of marriage. This is where all stand and the priest addresses everyone in the Church to start the ceremony. Next are the questions before the consent, followed by the consent, where the form of the ceremony is said. The last parts of the rite include the blessing and giving of the rings and finally the universal prayer. This sacrament also has many effects such as an increase in sanctifying grace, the special help of God for husband and wife to love each other faithfully , to bear each other's faults, to bring up their children properly, for the two to be come "united", a perpetual and exclusive bond, free, total, faithful, and fruitful love, and Christ's graces. This sacrament may only be received once. If one spouse dies, the other spouse may validly remarry. Although, there is no divorce when it comes to Holy matrimony, because it is a lifelong vow. Divorce is when the state or local authorities stop recognizing a marriage in civil or social circumstances. There is also an annulment, which is a declaration that the marriage was never valid to begin with. They are granted if it can be determined that one of the vows of Holy Matrimony has been broken. To enter Holy Matrimony, each spouse must be baptized without any impediments,.
PHOTOS OF A FAMILY MEMBER'S WEDDING
Here is a photo of my mom and dad at their wedding:
VIDEO OF A CATHOLIC MARRIAGE RITE
Here is a video of Catholic wedding ceremony:
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3 READINGS AND IMPORTANCE
Genesis 2: 22-24:
"22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man"
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. "
I chose this scripture reading because this is when woman first came into the world, so that man didn't have to be alone and that they would soon be conjoined together by this beautiful sacrament. This is a special reading that would be perfect for a wedding in the sense that it shows how man and woman have started together and become united once again when they are married to be joined in a love to help each other reach the ultimate goal of Heaven. This is such a perfect scripture reading to start off a marriage ceremony because it really explains the origin of each gender through the perspective of each ending up together in the end bound by Christ.
"22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man"
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. "
I chose this scripture reading because this is when woman first came into the world, so that man didn't have to be alone and that they would soon be conjoined together by this beautiful sacrament. This is a special reading that would be perfect for a wedding in the sense that it shows how man and woman have started together and become united once again when they are married to be joined in a love to help each other reach the ultimate goal of Heaven. This is such a perfect scripture reading to start off a marriage ceremony because it really explains the origin of each gender through the perspective of each ending up together in the end bound by Christ.
Proverbs 12:4:
"4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones."
The reason that I chose this scripture passage is because it gives 2 different examples of how wives may act or become. With the use of similes, it is comparing a noble wife versus a disgraceful wife. I think this is an important scripture verse because if you are a noble wife, you will be treated well and will be admired, but if you are a disgraceful wife, you will be described badly by others and will not be perceived as admirable by other people. This is almost like a reminder to treat your husband nice so that you may be treated nice in return.
"4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones."
The reason that I chose this scripture passage is because it gives 2 different examples of how wives may act or become. With the use of similes, it is comparing a noble wife versus a disgraceful wife. I think this is an important scripture verse because if you are a noble wife, you will be treated well and will be admired, but if you are a disgraceful wife, you will be described badly by others and will not be perceived as admirable by other people. This is almost like a reminder to treat your husband nice so that you may be treated nice in return.
Proverbs 19:24:
"14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD."
This scripture verse was really interesting in the fact that it really shows how lucky we are to be receiving our significant other from God so that we may be with him again in Heaven. I really liked this scripture verse because it really shows how God has a plan for us even before we were conceived and that he had our spouse chosen for us before. This verse also shows how materialistic things are less important than the love that you will receive from not only your spouse, but also God because he is giving us someone to help us get to Heaven and be with him again.
"14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD."
This scripture verse was really interesting in the fact that it really shows how lucky we are to be receiving our significant other from God so that we may be with him again in Heaven. I really liked this scripture verse because it really shows how God has a plan for us even before we were conceived and that he had our spouse chosen for us before. This verse also shows how materialistic things are less important than the love that you will receive from not only your spouse, but also God because he is giving us someone to help us get to Heaven and be with him again.