1.
Why does the Church teach that marriage is a sacrament?
Because it is sacred. Marriage is to be a union of love, and the sacraments make
Christ, the author of all love, present in our midst.
For this reason, marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament.
Like the other sacraments, marriage is not just for the good of individuals or
the couple but also for the community as a whole. The Old Testament prophets saw
the marriage of a man and woman as a symbol of the covenant relationship between
God and his people. The permanent and exclusive union between husband and wife
mirrors the mutual commitment between God and his people. Paul’s Letter to the
Ephesians says that this union is a symbol of the relationship between Christ
and the Church.
2. Do Catholics ever validly enter into non-sacramental marriages?
Yes. Marriages between Catholics and non-Christians, while they may still be
valid in the eyes of the Church, are non-sacramental. They are still blessed by
God, and with permission a priest or deacon may witness such marriages.
3. What is the difference between a valid and an invalid Catholic marriage?
Just as individual governments have certain requirements for civil marriage
(e.g., a marriage license, blood tests), the Catholic Church also has
requirements before Catholics can be considered validly married in the eyes of
the Church. A valid Catholic marriage results from four elements: (1) the
spouses are free to marry; (2) they freely exchange their consent; (3) in
consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful
to one another, and to be open to children; and (4) their consent is given in
the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.
Exceptions to the last requirement must be approved by Church authority.
4. If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, how can he or she assure that
the marriage is recognized by the Church?
In addition to meeting the criteria for a valid Catholic marriage (see question
#3), the Catholic must seek permission from the local bishop to marry a
non-Catholic. If the person is a non-Catholic Christian, this permission is
called "permission to enter into a mixed marriage." If the person is a
non-Christian, the permission is called "dispensation from disparity of
cult." The priest or deacon helping to prepare the couple for marriage can
assist with this permission process.
5. Why does a Catholic wedding have to take place in a church?
Marriage is not just a private or family event but also a Church event. For this
reason, the Church teaches that marriage should be celebrated in the midst of
the community, like in the parish church of one of the spouses. Only the local
bishop can permit a marriage to be celebrated in another suitable place.
6. If a Catholic wishes to marry in a place outside a Catholic church, how
can he or she be sure that the marriage is recognized by the Catholic Church as
valid?
The local bishop can permit a wedding to take place in another church or in
another suitable place for a sufficient reason. For example, a Catholic seeks to
marry a Baptist whose father is the pastor of the local Baptist church, and the
father wants to officiate at the wedding. In these circumstances the bishop
could permit the couple to marry in the Baptist church. The permission in these
instances is called "dispensation from canonical form." As long as the
couple follows proper protocol, including having a priest or deacon present to
witness the wedding, the marriage would be recognized as valid by the Catholic
Church. A priest or deacon would help the couple with the requirements.
7. If two Catholics, or a Catholic and non-Catholic,
are married invalidly in the eyes of the Church, what should they do?
They should approach a priest or deacon to resolve the situation.
8. When a Catholic marries a non-Catholic, must the couple promise to raise
the children in the Catholic faith?
The non-Catholic spouse does not have to promise to have the children raised
Catholic. However, the Catholic spouse must promise to do all that he or she can
do to have the children baptized and raised in the Catholic faith.
9. Is it required that a wedding celebration have
expensive flowers, clothes, and other accompaniments?
The Rite of Marriage makes no reference to any of these cultural elements. The
focus of the couple should be on the celebration of the sacrament. Many priests
and deacons repeatedly emphasize that a couple does not have to postpone
celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage because they cannot afford such things.
10. How much does it cost to get married in the Catholic Church?
Individual parishes regulate the stipend, or offering to the church, that is
customary on the occasion of a wedding. This might also include a fee for the
organist and vocalist if this is included in the ceremony. In a situation of
true financial difficulty, however, couples can come to an agreement with the
pastor so that true financial hardship would never prevent a marriage from
taking place.
11. What is a Nuptial Mass and when can a couple have one?
A Nuptial Mass is a Mass that includes the celebration of the Sacrament of
Marriage. It has special readings and prayers suitable to the celebration of the
sacrament. The Sacrament of Marriage between two baptized Catholics should
normally be celebrated with a Nuptial Mass.
If the situation warrants, and the local bishop gives permission, a Nuptial Mass
may be celebrated for a marriage between a Catholic and a baptized person who is
not a Catholic, except that Communion is not given to the non-Catholic spouse
and non-Catholic guests. In such instances, it is better to use the appropriate
ritual for marriage outside of
12. What should a couple do when they decide that they want to marry in the
Catholic Church?
They should contact their parish as soon as possible and make an appointment to
talk with the priest, deacon, or staff person responsible for preparing couples
for marriage. This must be done at least six months prior to the proposed date
of the wedding. It is important that it be done before any of the arrangements
for the wedding are made, e.g. renting a hall, hiring a disc jockey, etc. The
priest, deacon, or staff person will explain the process of marriage preparation
and the various preparation programs that are available.
13. Why does the Church require engaged couples to participate in a marriage
preparation program?
You can only love something that you know, and as your knowledge increases so
can your love deepen. As part of its pastoral responsibility the Church requires
every couple to participate in a marriage prep program in order that they will
be properly ready to be married. Marriage
preparation offers couples the opportunity to develop a better understanding of
Christian marriage; to evaluate and deepen their readiness to live married life;
and to gain insights into themselves as individuals and as a couple. It is
especially effective in helping couples to deal with the challenges of the early
years of marriage.
14. What kinds of marriage preparation programs does our local church offer?
In
the Diocese of Pittsburgh there are several options, and every couple is
required to attend one. The diocesan pre marriage program, consisting of four
evenings, is offered at St. Mary of Mercy’s Lawless Hall every other month
starting in January. Engaged Encounter Weekends are offered several times a
year. Also, many deaneries and clusters of parishes offer marriage preparation
programs. Some parishes offer programs for groups of couples as well as a
marriage-mentoring program with an experienced married couple. For further
information about any of these programs, contact the Office for Family Life and
Catechesis, 412-456-3160 or familylife@diopitt.org.
As part of their preparation many couples also complete
a premarital inventory, such as FOCCUS, (Facilitating Open Couple Communication,
Understanding and Study), to identify issues for discussion.
15. What key issues are covered in marriage preparation?
Marriage preparation programs help couples to understand both the practical and
spiritual realities of married life. Typical topics include the meaning of
marriage as a sacrament; faith, prayer and the Church; roles in marriage;
communication and conflict resolution; children, parenthood, and Natural Family
Planning; finances; and family of origin.
16. Is there a cost for marriage preparation programs?
Most programs charge a modest fee to cover the cost of materials. Programs that
require an overnight stay include an additional cost for rooms and meals.
Assistance is frequently available for couples who would otherwise be unable to
participate.
17. Does the Church offer any programs to help couples to improve their
marriage?
Yes. Peer ministry for married couples is widespread. Many couples participate
in Marriage Encounter (www.wwme.org), which offers a weekend experience and
ongoing community support. Many couples meet in parish-based small groups;
ministries such as Teams of Our Lady, and Christian Family Movement also
use the small group approach. Some parishes sponsor a retreat day or evening of
reflection for married couples. Others offer a mentoring system that matches
older couples with younger ones. Retrouvaille
offers a lifeline for troubled marriages that has proven itself effective. For
information about any of these programs, call the Office for Family life and
Catechesis 412-456-3160.
For other helpful resources consult the Diocese of Pittsburgh web page at www.diopitt.org/education/oflc