The Sacrament of Marriage
A Covenant of Love and Life
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman who freely give themselves to one another in a lifelong union of love and fidelity.
Marriage is more than a contract or a private commitment. For two baptized Christians, Christ raises the marriage covenant to the dignity of a sacrament. Through this sacrament, husband and wife receive the grace to live their marriage in faithful and fruitful love and to grow together in holiness.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the generation and education of children. The love of husband and wife is called to reflect the faithful and enduring love of Christ for His Church.
Marriage in God’s Plan
God created man and woman for communion with one another. Marriage is part of God’s plan for human life and is ordered toward a lifelong communion of love.
From the beginning, Scripture presents the union of man and woman as a profound gift from God. Jesus reaffirmed this plan, teaching that what God has joined together is not to be separated.
In Christian marriage, the love between husband and wife becomes a sign of Christ’s love for His Church. The spouses are called to love one another with a love that is faithful, self-giving, and enduring.
The Sacrament of Matrimony
Among baptized Christians, marriage is a true sacrament of the New Covenant.
The Sacrament of Matrimony gives spouses the grace to love one another with the love of Christ. It strengthens their unity, helps them remain faithful to their covenant, and sanctifies them throughout their married life.
Marriage is therefore not simply something that happens on a wedding day. The wedding celebrates the beginning of a lifelong vocation in which husband and wife are called to grow together in love and holiness.
The Consent of the Spouses
The consent of the bride and groom is at the heart of the Sacrament of Marriage.
The couple freely gives themselves to one another and accepts one another in a covenant intended to last throughout their lives.
This consent must be:
- Free, without coercion or fear.
- Complete, involving the total gift of oneself.
- Faithful, with the intention of a lifelong and exclusive union.
- Open to life, accepting the possibility of children and the responsibility of raising them.
In the Latin Catholic tradition, the spouses themselves are the ministers of the Sacrament of Matrimony. By freely exchanging their consent before the Church, they give themselves to one another and receive one another in marriage.
The Unity and Permanence of Marriage
Catholic marriage is characterized by unity and indissolubility.
Husband and wife are called to an exclusive and faithful union. The commitment made in marriage is intended to last throughout their lives.
This permanence is not meant to be a burden. Christ gives married couples the grace they need to live their vocation faithfully and to remain united through the joys and difficulties of married life.
The Church recognizes the lifelong nature of the marriage covenant and seeks to accompany married couples as they live out their vocation.
Marriage and Family Life
Marriage is naturally ordered toward the good of the spouses and the generation and education of children.
The family has an important place in God’s plan. The Christian home is called a domestic church, where children first encounter the Catholic faith and learn to pray, love, forgive, serve, and follow Christ.
Parents have the primary responsibility for the Christian education of their children. Through their example and daily life, married couples have the opportunity to witness to the love of Christ within their family and throughout the community.
The Celebration of Marriage
Because marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life within the Church, the celebration of the sacrament takes place publicly before the Church.
A Catholic wedding ordinarily takes place in a church and is celebrated according to the liturgical rites of the Catholic Church, in the presence of the priest or deacon, witnesses, and the Christian community.
For two Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage may ordinarily be celebrated within the celebration of Mass. The Eucharist reminds the couple that their marriage is united to Christ and His sacrifice for the Church.
Couples should speak with the parish priest about the appropriate form and celebration of their wedding.
Preparing for Marriage
The Catholic Church places great importance on preparing couples for the Sacrament of Marriage.
Marriage preparation gives an engaged couple an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the sacrament, reflect upon their vocation, discuss important aspects of married life, and prepare spiritually for the commitment they are about to make.
At St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, couples should begin the marriage preparation process with the parish before making final wedding arrangements.
Before Setting a Wedding Date
Couples wishing to be married at St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish should contact the parish priest before setting a wedding date or reserving a reception venue.
The Archdiocese of Hartford recommends beginning this process at least six months to a year before the desired wedding date. The priest will help determine the couple’s freedom to marry and guide them through the required preparation.
Marriage preparation may include:
- Meeting with the parish priest.
- Completing the required premarital investigation.
- Completing a premarital assessment.
- Participating in marriage preparation.
- Providing required sacramental records and documentation.
- Preparing for the celebration of the wedding liturgy.
- Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the wedding.
The exact preparation process will be determined by the parish in accordance with the requirements of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Required Documentation
Couples preparing for a Catholic marriage should be prepared to provide the necessary sacramental and civil documentation.
Catholics will generally need a recent copy of their Baptismal certificate from the parish where they were baptized. Other sacramental documentation may also be required.
A marriage license must be obtained from the appropriate Connecticut municipality when required for the wedding.
The parish will explain which documents are needed and when they should be provided.
Marriage Preparation and the Wedding Day
The wedding day is an important celebration, but the Catholic Church emphasizes that the wedding is the beginning of a lifelong marriage.
Couples are encouraged to approach their wedding preparation not simply as planning for one day, but as preparation for a vocation that they will live together for the rest of their lives.
The Archdiocese of Hartford provides additional guidance and resources for couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MARRIAGE PREPARATION
A Lifelong Vocation
The Sacrament of Marriage does not end when the wedding celebration is over.
Husband and wife are called to continue growing together in love, faith, and holiness. Through prayer, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, service, and daily acts of love and sacrifice, married couples can grow closer to Christ and to one another.
The grace of the sacrament remains with the couple throughout their married life. Christ accompanies them and gives them the strength to live their vocation faithfully.
A Catholic marriage is therefore both a gift and a calling: a lifelong covenant through which husband and wife seek to love one another and lead one another closer to God.
If You Are Already Married
Couples who are already married should also know that the parish is here to accompany them throughout their married life.
If you have questions about your marriage, your sacramental status, convalidation, or another marriage-related situation, please contact the parish. The Church desires to accompany couples and help them discern the best path forward in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
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The teachings presented on this page are based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1601–1666.