The sacrament of Holy Matrimony is when a couple vows to devote themselves entirely to each other. Each person's goal is to help his or her spouse reach holiness and happiness in Christ. This sacrament prepares each spouse to be worthy to enter heaven. In order to enter into Holy Matrimony, each spouse must be baptized without any impediment. If one spouse is not baptized, it is called a natural marriage.
Form The form of Holy Matrimony is the words said by the minister as the sacrament is performed. In Holy Matrimony, each spouse will say, "I, (name), take you, (name), to be my wife/husband. 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."
Matter The matter is the physical elements required for the sacrament to be valid. The matter in Holy Matrimony is the mutual consent to live together as husband and wife in the marriage covenant, and consummation of the sacrament.
Minister The minister is the person who performs the sacrament. The ministers of Holy Matrimony are actually the bride and the groom in the presence of the Church as a witness.
Rite The bride and groom recite their vows as they put rings on one another. They agree to be true and faithful to each other until death, no matter what might happen.
Wedding Readings
Genesis 2:18-24 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature,that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 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.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
~This reading is important because it basically says that God created a specific partner for you and that you are meant to be with that person. When you find the person you are going to marry, it is like you are a part of them because you were made for each other.
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
~This reading is important because it describes love in a wonderful way. It says that love is patient and kind. It also says that love is not jealous, pompous, inflated, rude, quick tempered, or selfish. It says that love is the center of everything. If you love someone, you have to be patient with them and kind to them.
(Matthew 5:1-12):When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
~There is not a reference to marriage in this passage, but the Beatitudes are very important to married life. During the tough times in your life when you do not feel blessed, you need to remember the Beatitudes. Not every day is going to be as happy with out spouse as your wedding day. You will fight and have many disagreements, so you always have to keep the Beatitudes in mind.
This is a photo of my great grandmother and great grandfather on their wedding day.