Marriage

Marriage is the covenant by which a man and a woman give themselves to each other for their whole life, forming a community ordered to their mutual love and to the welcoming of children. Between two baptized persons, Christ raised it to the dignity of a sacrament, a sacred sign that truly gives the grace of God.

Instituted by God from the origin

God inscribed marriage in the nature of man and woman from creation. Creating them one for the other, he unites them in a single life and blesses them for fruitfulness. “A man will leave his father and his mother, he will cling to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 This union of one man and one woman is open to life. “Be fruitful and multiply.” Genesis 1:28

Raised by Christ to the rank of a sacrament

Christ raised marriage to the dignity of a sacrament by uniting it to his own covenant with the Church. The love of the spouses reproduces the love of Christ for her: as Christ gives himself for the Church to the Cross, remains united to her without ever separating from her, and makes her fruitful, the spouses give themselves to each other wholly, remain united for life, and open their love to life. The visible union of the two spouses thus gives to see the invisible union of Christ and the Church: it is in this that it is the sign of it. “This mystery is great: I say it in reference to Christ and the Church.” Ephesians 5:32 This elevation supposes the baptism of the two spouses, which makes them members of Christ: it is because they belong to him that their union can bear the sign of his union with the Church. The marriage of two baptized persons is therefore always a sacrament, whether they are Catholics or of different Christian confessions; and if one is not baptized, their union, a true marriage willed by God, is raised to the rank of a sacrament the day he receives baptism.

Unity and indissolubility

Marriage possesses two properties essential to it: unity and indissolubility. Unity: one man and one woman. Indissolubility: the bond lasts until death, for what God unites, no one can undo. Christ affirms it, returning to the design of the beginning. “Let man not separate what God has joined.” Matthew 19:6

Consent and grace

It is the spouses themselves who give each other the sacrament, by exchanging their consent, the free yes by which each gives and receives the other. The priest or the deacon receives this consent in the name of the Church and blesses the covenant. By this sacrament, God grants the spouses a proper grace: it strengthens their love, helps them to sanctify each other and to welcome and raise their children in the faith.