Fun Facts
- The Sacrament of Matrimony is always preformed by a priest, bishop, or pope. It can be assisted by a deacon.
- Rings are used to signify the everlasting bond formed between a husband and wife through holy matrimony and the continuation of their vows to one another.
- For the Sacrament of Marriage to be completed in the eyes of the church, it has to be preformed during mass. There can be a separate legal wedding outside of the church, but the religious ceremony must also be completed for it to be recognized as a marriage within the Church.
- In some parts of Europe in the 18th Century, a biscuit or small loaf of bread was broken over the head of the bride as she came out from the church. The unmarried guests would grab the crumbs, and they would place them under their pillows to help their own fortunes in marriage. The tradition of having a wedding cake might have come from this custom.
- To be a valid Catholic marriage, the couple has to be free to get married, freely exchange their consent, have the intention to marry for life, be faithful to one another, and open to children. and give their consent in the presence of two witnesses and an authorized Church minister. The only part of these requirements that has exceptions is celebrating a marriage in the presence of two witnesses and an authorized Church minister. These exceptions are special cases that have to first be approved by a church authority.
- Jesus' first miracle in the Bible is at the wedding of Cana
- Catholic Vows are always the same at a Catholic wedding
- For more about the ceremony, click here
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Catholics have to get married in a church?
It is very rare that a couple will celebrate the sacrament of Matrimony in a place other than a church. It is possible, but requires special dispensation from the archdiocese and is only allowed in special cases. This is because marriage is a sacrament, and therefore should be celebrated in God's house, which is the church. A wedding is more than a sentimental social event. It is a sacrament that joins together one man and one woman together through the grace of God and therefore the focus should not be on the scenery, but rather on the sacrament.
What does the Church have to say about divorce?
The church does not encourage divorce, but they do recognize that sometimes there are legitimate civil reasons for divorce. The church does not allow remarriage without an annulment. This is because in the Bible, Jesus had strong teachings about marriage and divorce and was very clear about how they should be handled, so that is a teaching that the Catholic church has always abided by.
If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, how can they have their marriage recognized by the Church?
The Catholic individual has to get permission from a local bishop to marry a non-Catholic and then people helping to prepare the marriage will help with the marriage recognition by the Church.
It is very rare that a couple will celebrate the sacrament of Matrimony in a place other than a church. It is possible, but requires special dispensation from the archdiocese and is only allowed in special cases. This is because marriage is a sacrament, and therefore should be celebrated in God's house, which is the church. A wedding is more than a sentimental social event. It is a sacrament that joins together one man and one woman together through the grace of God and therefore the focus should not be on the scenery, but rather on the sacrament.
What does the Church have to say about divorce?
The church does not encourage divorce, but they do recognize that sometimes there are legitimate civil reasons for divorce. The church does not allow remarriage without an annulment. This is because in the Bible, Jesus had strong teachings about marriage and divorce and was very clear about how they should be handled, so that is a teaching that the Catholic church has always abided by.
If a Catholic wants to marry a non-Catholic, how can they have their marriage recognized by the Church?
The Catholic individual has to get permission from a local bishop to marry a non-Catholic and then people helping to prepare the marriage will help with the marriage recognition by the Church.