SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
ABOUT THE SACRAMENT
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.”
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of “the wedding-feast of the Lamb.” Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its “mystery,” its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal “in the Lord” in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church.
God who created man out of love also calls him to love—the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes. And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.’ ”
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.
The Church holds the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the indispensable element that “makes the marriage.” If consent is lacking there is no marriage. The consent must be an act of the will of each of the contracting parties, free of coercion or grave external fear. No human power can substitute for this consent. If this freedom is lacking the marriage is invalid.
“From a valid marriage arises a bond between the spouses which by its very nature is perpetual and exclusive; furthermore, in a Christian marriage the spouses are strengthened and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and the dignity of their state by a special sacrament.” The consent by which the spouses mutually give and receive one another is sealed by God himself.
REQUIREMENTS BEFORE MARRIAGE
Marriage in the Catholic Church may only be contracted between two people who are free to marry.
Individuals who have been married before and still have a former spouse living, must first have that marriage declared null before they can establish a date for their wedding.
Being married at Saint John the Baptist is reserved for registered parishioners, and those closely related to current parishioners.
Archdiocesan policy dictates that marriage formation must begin at least six months prior to the scheduled wedding.
This will require the couple to contact the parish office (952-492-2640) 9-12 months prior to a desired wedding date.
Preparation includes meetings with a parish representative, a FOCCUS inventory with an assigned mentor couple, and attending a 6-week Pre-Marriage Formation Program.
The couple is also required to attend an Archdiocesan Weekend Retreat, as well as complete a Natural Family Planning course.
LITURGY
Readings - Couples are required to pick readings from the following list of approved readings. Please note, the only translation allowed at the Nuptial Liturgy, is the New American Bible translation. Readings will need to be selected for the following:
Old Testament
Responsorial Psalm
New Testament
Gospel
Lectors - Couples may appoint anywhere from 1 to 4 people to read the readings at their Nuptial Mass. It is required that these lectors be actively practicing Catholics.
Music - Please read and review the following guidelines pertaining to music at the Nuptial Mass. Mr. Elijah McMahon, the Director of Sacred Music at Saint John’s, has right of first refusal to play at all weddings at Saint John’s. He would be the first person for you to contact to begin selecting music for your Nuptial Mass.
Click HERE to hear a selection of various organ selections.
IRREGULAR MARRIAGE SITUATIONS
ALL CATHOLICS (EVEN IF JUST ONE IN THE COUPLE IS CATHOLIC) MUST BE MARRIED BEFORE A BISHOP, PRIEST, OR DEACON IN A CHURCH
CAN. 1108 §1.† Only those marriages are valid which are contracted before the local ordinary (Bishop), pastor, or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them, who assist, and before two witnesses
CAN. 1117† The form prescribed must be observed if at least one of the parties contracting the marriage was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU WEREN’T MARRIED BEFORE A BISHOP, PRIEST, OR DEACON
If you are Catholic and you were not married by a bishop, priest, or deacon, and you did not seek a dispensation, you’re marriage is not a valid Sacramental Marriage in the eyes of the Church. What must you do to remedy the situation?
Meet with the pastor to fill out a simple 1 page dispensation form which will be submitted to the Archbishop.
After receiving back approval form the Archbishop (usually takes 3-6 weeks), the pastor will schedule a “convalidation ceremony” with you.
A convalidation ceremony is a simple reciting of your vows to one another. It takes very little time (10-20 minutes at the most) and can be done with close family or just the couple.
This is all free of charge.
MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO BAPTIZED, ONE CATHOLIC and ONE NON-CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN
CAN. 1124† Marriage between two baptized persons, one of whom was baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it after baptism, and the other a member of a Church or ecclesial community not in full communion with the Catholic Church, cannot be celebrated without the express permission of the competent authority.
MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE BAPTIZED AND ONE NOT BAPTIZED
CAN. 1086 §1.† A marriage between two persons, one of whom has been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it, and the other of whom is not baptized, is invalid.
PREVIOUS MARRIAGE
CAN. 1085 §1.† A person bound by the bond of a prior marriage, even if it was not consummated, invalidly attempts marriage.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU WERE PREVIOUSLY MARRIED AND ATTEMPTED MARRIAGE AGAIN WITHOUT AN ANNULMENT
Applying for an annulment from a previous bond/marriage is a process to be undertaken under the direction of your pastor. Together, you will meet with your pastor to fill out the necessary paperwork to begin the process. The entire process might take as much as 7-10 months, depending on how backed up the tribunal is with cases. While some may dread the thought of going through such a process, I have never once had anyone tell me they regret it after they’ve done it. They all have a sense of relief and closure at the end and feel complete freedom to enter into marriage with their new partner.
MARRIAGE OUTSIDE OF A CHURCH BUILDING
CAN. 1118 §1.† A marriage between Catholics or between a Catholic party and a non-Catholic baptized party is to be celebrated in a parish church. It can be celebrated in another church or oratory with the permission of the local ordinary (Bishop) or pastor.