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 realisations 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.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1601 – 1602

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Today there are lots of different ways to get married, so what is it that makes a Catholic marriage-Catholic? Essentially, Catholics understand marriage as a vocation. In other words, a ‘life’s work,’ a ‘calling for God’ and a ‘mission’ which takes priority in our life.

Through the wedding vows, a couple give themselves to each other freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully. This means that they enter into this commitment with freedom of consent, their promise is exclusive and life-long, and they are open to any children God may bring into the world through their union.

Those four defining elements of Catholic marriage – freely, totally, faithfully and fruitfully – are expressed through the words and gestures of the liturgy and the couples life together. A Catholic marriage is never just a private commitment between two people. The Church calls Marriage (or Matrimony) one of the ‘sacraments at the service of communion.’ This means married couples have an important role to play to nurture the People of God, starting with their family. In addition, for the Church, the love between a husband and wife is a powerful symbol of God’s love for humankind. 

Therefore, to enter in to a marriage in the Catholic Church, at least one partner must be baptised Catholic. Also, neither partner can previously have been married, unless an annulment had been granted by the Church. It is assumed that a couple wishing to marry in the Church have some degree of personal commitment to living a life of faith as witnesses to God’s love and presence in this world.

Archdiocesan Ministries