1 What is the Sacrament of Matrimony?
Matrimony is the Sacrament made by our Lord Jesus Christ to sanctify (make holy) the lawful union of a Christian man and woman.
2. What does the Sacrament of Matrimony give to the husband and wife?
The Sacrament of Matrimony –
1) makes the grace grow in their souls
2) gives them special helps to perform their duties as married people and to overcome the difficulties which may come into their married life.
3. Was Marriage always a Sacrament?
No, marriage, although a sacred union of a man and woman, was not always a Sacrament, but was raised to the dignity of a Sacrament by Jesus.
4. Who may receive the Sacrament of Matrimony?
Only persons who have been baptized may receive the Sacrament of Matrimony.
5. What is necessary to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony?
In order to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily, I must be in the state of grace, that is, I must have no mortal sin on my soul
6. What kind of a sin is it to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony in the state of mortal sin?
To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony in the state of mortal sin is a mortal sin, a sacrilege. However, let it be clear that the sacrilege does not make the marriage invalid.
7. How must Catholics be married?
A Catholic must be married in the presence of a Catholic Priest and two Catholic witnesses.
8. What happens if a Catholic is not married in the presence of a Priest?
A Catholic who goes through a marriage ceremony before anyone else than a Catholic Priest is not married and is guilty of mortal sin.
Such a couple are not husband and wife and, therefore, have no right to live together, and children born of such a union are illegitimate. Such a marriage ceremony is a mockery.
9. What if a Catholic goes through a marriage ceremony before a protestant minister?
A Catholic who goes through a marriage ceremony in the presence of a protestant minister is not only guilty of mortal sin but is also excommunicated from the Church and the case has to go to the Bishop.
To be excommunicated, he must know that such a penalty is attached to his act.
10. What are some of the other laws of the Church about marriage?
1) It is forbidden to marry very near relatives, as first or second cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews or nieces.
2) All the children must be baptized and educated in the Catholic religion.
11. May a Catholic marry a non-Catholic?
A Catholic may not marry a non-Catholic, unless there is a very serious reason. A marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic is called a mixed marriage.
12. Why does the Church forbid mixed marriages?
The Church forbids mixed marriages because of the danger of loss of faith on the part of the Catholic and of the children.
The different religious beliefs of the parents often cause serious arguments on such important matters as divorce, birth control, Sunday Mass, eating meat on Friday and Catholic education of the children,
13. Were mixed marriages forbidden in the Bible?
Yes, mixed marriages were strictly forbidden by God in the Old Testament.
“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them. Thou shalt not give thy daughter to his son, nor take his daughter for thy son; For she will turn away thy son from following Me, that he may rather serve strange gods, and the wrath of the Lord will be kindled, and will quickly destroy thee” (Deuteronomy 7:3, 4).
See also : Josue 23:12 and Malachias 2:11.
14. Who is the only one that can allow a mixed marriage?
The Bishop is the only one who can give permission for a mixed marriage, and he can give such permission only for a very serious reason.
15. In a mixed marriage, what must the non-Catholic promise?
In a mixed marriage, the non-Catholic must sign promises
1) not to interfere with the Catholic’s practice of religion
2) to see to it that all the children be baptized and be brought up as Catholics, and
3) to observe the laws of God and of the Catholic Church concerning marriage
4) not to have any ceremony before or after in the presence of a non-Catholic minister.
16. In a mixed marriage, why should the non-Catholic be encouraged to take instructions?
In a mixed marriage, the non-Catholic should be encouraged to take instructions so that he (or she) learn something about the True Religion and Christian morality.
For the most part, the average non-Catholic knows practically nothing about religion or morality, since very few protestant churches have any religious instruction at all. The Ten Commandments are looked upon by many as merely a human set of rules which may be changed according to one’s likes.
17. In a mixed marriage, what is one of the chief duties of the Catholic?
In a mixed marriage, the Catholic party is bound prudently to procure the conversion of the non-Catholic party to the True Church.
The Catholic has the serious obligation in charity to give good example, to pray and to do all that is prudent to lead the non-Catholic into the True Church.
18. Is the marriage of a non-Catholic with another non-Catholic a real marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church?
Yes, the marriages of all non-Catholics among themselves are valid marriages (and therefore cannot be broken) provided that all the laws of God concerning marriage are observed.
Therefore, a non-Catholic, when joining the Catholic Church, does not have to be married all over again, if the marriage was valid from the start.
19. What should be my attitude toward marriage?
I should look upon marriage as a very holy union, founded by God and raised to the dignity of a Sacrament by Jesus Christ,
“For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like the heathens that know not God” (Tobias 8:5).
20. Why should I pray for a happy marriage?
I should pray every day for a happy marriage because, most probably, I will save my soul or lose it as a married person.
“House and riches are given by parents; but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord” (Proverbs 19:14).
21. What should be my purpose in seeking marriage?
In seeking marriage, I should look forward to having children and founding a Christian home, and not “for fleshly lust … but for the love of posterity in which Thy Name may be blessed for ever and ever” (Tobias 8:9).
People who marry for selfish reasons (money, pleasure, beauty, fame, influence) very seldom, if ever, find happiness in marriage. Genuine happiness is attained only by completely generous souls who are ready to sacrifice themselves in all things.
22. Why should I study marriage?
I should study what marriage is and what are its duties and obligations because knowledge of these things does not come naturally.
Marriage, like any other career, requires specialized knowledge obtained through study and prayer. I should, if possible, attend a Catholic marriage forum or a Pre-Cana Conference, or at least receive special instructions on marriage from my Parish Priest. If I am a woman, I should learn the duties of a housewife, such as preparing meals, baby care and feeding, and so on.
23. What is the best preparation for marriage?
The best preparation for a happy marriage is to lead a truly Christian life, to receive Holy Communion and go to Confession often, to observe the 6th Commandment strictly and to follow the advice of my parents and Parish Priest.
24. What qualities should I look for in choosing a partner?
In choosing a partner for marriage, I should look for a person
1) who is a good Catholic
2) who is really serious about having children and founding a Christian home
3) who is not selfish or immature
4) who is sincere, truthful, dependable and chaste.
25. At what age should a person marry?
One should not marry until he (or she) is old enough, not only in body but in mind, to accept the responsibilities of married life,
Today, a boy or girl under twenty-one years of age may be capable of having children, but is not usually developed enough mentally to realize the seriousness of marriage.
26. What should a Catholic do who wants to marry?
Preparation for the wedding should be made with one of the Priests in the bride’s parish at least one month before the marriage is to take place.
In case of a mixed marriage, the non-Catholic should be brought to the Priest at least three or four months before the wedding so that he (or she) may take instructions in the Catholic Religion.
27. Do Catholics have to be married at Mass?
Catholics are not obliged to be married at Mass, but certainly should be encouraged to do so.
There is a special Mass for the bride and groom called the Nuptial Mass. This Mass may not be celebrated for a mixed marriage, nor during Lent or Advent.
28. What is the greatest source of happiness in marriage?
The greatest source of happiness in marriage is children.
Court records show that there are much fewer marriage breakups among couples with large families and that there are more break-ups among childless couples or couples who have only one or two children.