Pope John Paul 11 has preached in his homily in the UK (31.05.82) about marriage teaching that “marriage is a loving way to answer God’s call”. Marriage is a vocation. Through marriage a family is created that can “reach out to those in the community who are poor, lonely or even out casts”. Through marriage children are created and the family “be bridges between different generations so that love and respect still remains”.
The Pope recognised that sometimes marriage could be difficult but couples must work hard at them and not separate or divorce, “ we must not forget that God’s love for his people is everlasting and cannot be broken”.
A Christian marriage needs to take place in a church with the priest in attendance.
In the greeting the priest will welcome everyone present into God’s house. It is a sign that the whole congregation and parish want them to know that they share in the joy of the happy occasion and join in with the celebration of the marriage.
At the homily the priest will speak about the dignity of married love and how this will help the couple to grow closer to God through each other. He will also converse about the meaning and responsibility of marriage. The couple will be questioned on whether they “give oneself to each other freely and without reservation?” emphasising that marriage is a completely exclusive and faithful relationship. The couple are then asked if they “will love and honour each other for life?” underlining the permanence of marriage mirroring God’s love which lasts forever. The indissolubility of marriage is the greatest protection of human love against its own weaknesses. The couple are also asked “will they accept children lovingly from God?” The couple are invited to share in God’s work of creation when they get married. To refuse to this work means that no marriage can take place.
For marriage commitment is needed.
Following this the couple will take their vows to show a covenant, an unconditional gift, of the whole of oneself to each other in front of their friends and family; so everyone knows the permanence, exclusiveness and life-giving ness of
their marriage.
The priest represents the people of God, the church, and he accepts the mutual consent of the couple.
Rings are exchanged as a sign to symbolise love and fidelity of the couple to each other. They have promised themselves to one another in love as an everlasting and select relationship. The ring is a token of their promises to each other which will be worn at all times signifying they are part of a couple.
The priest will then bless the couple saying,
“Keep them faithful to you and to each other and let them be living examples of Christian life”.
A legal register will then be signed and the couple are officially married.
