The Catholic service might influence the attitudes of a follower of the Catholic service today by in marriage, the couple are individually expected to show that they intend to remain together in the public declaration of their intentions. The service is a holy thing because it is a sacrament, and is approved of by God and the Church, and the couple are asked to make that declaration before God and the Church. The priest says, “Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, declare your consent before God and his Church. (Name), will you take (Name), here present, for your lawful (wife/husband), according to the rites of your holy Mother, the Church?”
This makes clear the belief that marriage is a sign for all to see, it is something, which the whole community is called upon to witness and celebrate. This is not something, which couples can enter into light-heartedly, because they may well have no intention of remaining together at all – and that makes a mockery of this important act.
A couple’s attitude comes out in the vow which couples make. This is the second legal requirement that the law needs for a marriage to be proper and binding. The marriage vow which, the couple makes individually is: “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, (Name), do take thee, (Name), to be lawful wedded (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward; for better for worse, for richer for poorer: in sickness and in health: to love and to cherish, till death us do part.” This statement is important because it is totally exclusive: it allows no loophole. Once the couple are married they stay married Nothing can be held back. The statement brings out the Catholic belief that marriage is life long, and it also reinforces the exclusivity of the marriage bond, regardless of what may happen. As people do not know what the future holds there is a huge amount of trust involved on the part of the couple in each other.
The catholic service might influence the lifestyle of a follower of the Catholic faith today by the Christian lifestyle is monogamous, that there shall be one husband for each women, and one wife for each man. An important teaching of the Church is that the two individuals now become a couple: that the two become one, as it is written in the book of genesis: that the man shall leave his family and be united to his wife, and the two shall leave his family and be united to his wife, and the two shall become one. This is made plain in the declaration of the priest, quoting the words of Jesus, “What God has joined together, let no man asunder.”
This also means that the “same-sex” marriages are ruled out, because there is no natural union, which can take place between the couple. These are further ruled out because the couple cannot ever fulfil the third public declaration, from which older couples are exempted, “Are you ready to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”
This points out that whenever the couple have sex, the event must be open to the possibility of being life giving since that is the whole nature and purpose of marriage: to love your partner, who is presented to God and his people, and that this love should be so great that children are the desired and a natural product of such love. It forms part of the responsibility which the couple take on when they marry.
The Catholic lifestyle indicates that the marriage is for life, that the only end to marriage is death, and then the couple are free to remarry without fear of any sin or impediment to further marriage. This emphasises the need for trust in the relationship, as the couple grow together. If there is no trust the couple may grow apart, with the possibility of divorce.
One of the main places that the lifestyle of the Catholic couple are influenced in the ceremony is in the blessing at the end of the service, “let us pray that God will bless this woman, give her love and peace, may her husband recognise that she is his equal and be heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honour her and love her as Christ loves hid bride the Church. Keep them faithful to you and to each other and let them be living examples of Christian life.”
The catholic service of marriage might influence the social practices of a follower of the Christian faith today because Catholic marriage is a public affair. It takes place in front of the assembled congregation. It is a life-long commitment, and cannot be broken except by the death of one of the partners. The law cannot declare that the sacrament is over. However, the law can end the contract and allow the couple to marry in a civic ceremony. However, it’s not the same because Catholics see marriage as mirroring love of God for his people.
The ceremony is accompanied by the giving of a ring, the symbol of eternity of marriage and its love, with the words, “(Name), take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”; and the signing of marriage register.
Certainly, the demands made by the Church on her people are very different from those demands made by society. But then the service is seen as a sacrament, and the grace available from God here and every day, are enough for a couple to have the courage and strength to face each and everyday, and make a new start when the going gets touch, or gives them the courage to seek outside help when things appear to be going wrong.