The Sacrament of Marriage (Holy Matrimony)

“And the two shall become one flesh” (Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31).

Christ’s Words of Institution of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony:

Have you not read that he who made them from beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6).

Weddings are beautiful celebrations initiating a life-long covenant relationship and commitment of marriage; an “I do” to an unknown future of self-sacrificing love encompassing both joyful and challenging moments. The Sacrament of Marriage unites two people, a man and a woman, who become one flesh in Christ. He is their “GPS” as they navigate through the crossroads of day to day living. Their bright future is in God’s hands, accessible to them through commitment to family prayer.

Necessity of Preparation:

It is only common sense that the life-long vocation of marriage requires preparation. Therefore, the Church, in her wisdom, sets standards for the couple. The process is orientated towards specific circumstances whether for those never married, those widowed, those who have undergone the healing process of annulment, etc. Most couples who have never married can expect the sacrament preparation to take 6-8 months. 

Please contact the Parish Office (407-932-5004) to start the process of this momentous and sacred moment of your lives.  A deacon will be assigned to you to accompany you in the preparation process.  Toward the completion of the preparation, you’ll meet with the Pastor who will complement your training with an Overview of the Theology of the Sacrament of Marriage and to ascertain that you’re ready for your marital vows.  

Biblical Reference:

Have you not read that he who made them from beginning made them male and female, and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6).

A married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies she is discharged from the law. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord (Romans 7:2-3).

Teaching of the Church:

The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1661).

The Celebration of Marriage

The Celebration of Marriage

1621 In the Latin Rite the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ. In the Eucharist the memorial of the New Covenant is realized, the New Covenant in which Christ has united himself for ever to the Church, his beloved bride for whom he gave himself up. It is therefore fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice, and by receiving the Eucharist so that, communicating in the same Body and the same Blood of Christ, they may form but "one body" in Christ.

1623 In the Latin Church, it is ordinarily understood that the spouses, as ministers of Christ's grace, mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church.

1624 The various liturgies abound in prayers of blessing and epiclesis asking God's grace and blessing on the new couple, especially the bride. In the epiclesis of this sacrament the spouses receive the Holy Spirit as the communion of love of Christ and the Church. The Holy Spirit is the seal of their covenant, the ever available source of their love and the strength to renew their fidelity.

If you are planning to celebrate you matrimony here at St. Rose of Lima, contact Dcn. Juan Contreras juan.contreras@saintroseoflimacc.org