Marriage
What is Marriage?
God who created us out of love also calls us to love - this is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.
For we are created in the image and likeness of God who is love. The mutual love of man and woman becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves humanity.
Marriage is an “intimate community of life and love … established by the Creator... God himself is the author of marriage." Gaudium et Spes 48. This communion of spouses is ordered to the good of the spouses and the good of children.
Marriage between baptised persons is a sacrament.
A Catholic Wedding
Cultural ideas of marriage are shaped by popular movies and televised royal weddings. Couples want their marriage ceremony to be unique and personal. The bride and groom often expect to be able to prepare their own marriage ceremony, including writing their own vows and using songs that are personal favourites.
However marriage in the Church is not the private celebration of the couple or their families and friends. The Rite of Marriage is the official ritual of the Church, so the Church regulates its celebration.
The priest or deacon who celebrates the wedding will help prepare the couple for the marriage, complete the necessary documentation and prepare the wedding ceremony.
Why Marry in a Catholic Church?
The question of where to hold the wedding is an important one which couples need to talk about together.
Sometimes couples want to be married in a church because of social pressure or family tradition. These are not sufficient reasons in themselves for choosing a church wedding.
A church is the appropriate venue for the marriage of those who believe in Christ and who wish to celebrate publicly God’s blessing of their union.
Catholic Wedding Structure
The Catholic rite of marriage is structured as follows:
Introductory Rites
After the entrance procession, the minister greets and welcomes the people and prays the opening prayer.
Liturgy of the Word
A reading from scripture is followed by the singing of a psalm and the reading of the gospel. Then in the homily the priest or deacon speaks of marriage.
Liturgy of Marriage
After an introduction and some questions addressed to the couple, they declare their consent to marry. This is followed by the blessing and exchange of rings, and prayers of intercession. The Nuptial Blessing and Lord’s Prayer follow.
Liturgy of Eucharist
If the marriage is celebrated during Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist follows. It incorporates the Lord’s Prayer and Nuptial Blessing.
Concluding Rites
The priest blesses the couple and the people. The marriage register is signed.
Within the structure of the ceremony, you are able to choose readings, prayers and music to make your marriage a special celebration.
There are also decisions to be made about how you enter the church in the entrance procession, where you stand, how your family and friends will be involved in the celebration, and so on.
Preparing for Marriage
Entering into marriage is one of the biggest decisions anybody makes in his or her lifetime. The Church strongly recommends that couples undertake some kind of formal preparation for marriage to help them understand the nature of marriage and the many human complexities of married life.
There are several options for marriage preparation available in the Archdiocese of Brisbane:
Pre-Marriage Education Group Courses offered through Centacare Brisbane
FOCCUS Program offered through Centacare Brisbane
Preparation materials available through the Liturgical Commission
Engaged Encounter (usually over a weekend)
Embrace (a program with a mentor couple over several weeks)
A couple can discuss these options with the priest who is officiating at their wedding.
It is advisable to plan to do the marriage preparation 6 months before the wedding.
A Planning Aid
The small book When We Marry is invaluable in preparing your marriage liturgy.
It is available from The Liturgical Commission:
GPO Box 282
Brisbane 4001
Ph: 07 3336 9444
Fax: 07 3221 1705
E-mail: orders@litcom.net.au
Web: Liturgical Commission