SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
Liturgical Celebration of Sacrament of Matrimony By Edward Matulanya Here are Meaning, Biblical Foundations, Historical Development, Theology, Liturgical Celebration, and effects of Sacrament of Matrimony in the Roman Catholic Church. 1. Meaning of Sacrament of Matrimony in Catholic Church The Sacrament of Matrimony is the covenant by which a baptized man and a baptized woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life. It is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1994/1997, §1601). According to Catholic teaching, it is a sacrament—an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace . The spouses are the ministers of the sacrament, exchanging consent freely, while the priest or deacon serves as the official witness of the Church (Martos, 2001). 2. Sacrament of Matrimony in Biblical Foundations Marriage is rooted in Scripture. In Genesis, God declares that “It is n...