MATRIMONY
Catechism
#1601-1666
Outline
1. Old Testament Background
2. New Testament Background
3. Tradition Background
4. Threefold Good
5. Threefold Nature
6. Sacrament
7. Impediments
8. Mixed Marriage
9. Sacramental Nature
1. Old Testament Background
Be
fruitful and multiply Gen 1: 27-29
Become
one flesh Gen 2: 20-24
Ideal
wife- Book of Proverbs 31:10-31
I
hate divorce says Yahweh Malachi
2. New Testament Background
Paul
in Eph 5:25-32 quotes Gen
The
union of Christ and his Church is compared
to marriage Eph
Also
Paul says to remain unmarried is better
1 Cor
3. Tradition Background:
First
natural human societal tie is man and wife (Augustine)
Marriage
is a community of love
(
Fundamental
equality of the partners
(Vatican II, Gaudium
et spes #48)
Praiseworthy
customs of a society can be retained
4. Threefold Good
Offspring
are a blessing and a purpose of marriage
Fidelity
of partners is a necessary requirement
The
sacrament makes marriage a covenant of
indissoluble
love
5. Threefold Nature
Covenant
relationship or binding agreement
Institution
or society; a family is a domestic church
Sacrament, vows are made in
the church
6. Sacrament
Spouses
are the ministers of the sacrament
Exchange
of mutual vows is an essential element
A
priest or deacon receives and blesses the
marriage vows
for the Church
Marriage
during Mass is recommended for
two Catholics
This
gives special graces pertinent to the marriage
A
mixed marriage needs a dispensation for performing the
ceremony during
Mass
7. Impediments
Invalid means no marriage exists
Illicit means a marriage forbidden by the Church,
but is still
valid
Diriment impediment - marriage is not valid -
it never occurred
Impedient impediment - marriage is forbidden
but still valid
Minimum
age is 16 for a man, 14 for a woman by
Church law, although usually civil law is
abided by
A
preexisting marriage invalidates a new one
Being
ordained or a solemn vow of chastity
invalidates a
marriage
Marriage
is forbidden to 4th degree of kindred
(i.e. uncle-niece and 1st cousin marriages are not
allowed)
Annulment means the marriage was never
sacramentally
genuine
8. Mixed Marriage
Marriage to a baptized noncatholic requires a
dispensation,
otherwise it is forbidden but still valid
Marriage
to an unbaptized person requires a
dispensation,
otherwise it is not valid
The
Catholic party must promise to remove all dangers of
losing the
faith, and promise to do everything possible
to baptize and
bring up the children as Catholics
9. Sacramental Nature
Marriage
is a vocation type sacrament
It
does not impart a character on the soul
The
marrying couple are the ministers
The
priest or deacon is a witness for the Church
The
couple must be adults of the required age
The
sacramental outward sign is the exchange of vows
CPPoole