Explain how the rituals and vows connected with Christian marriage ceremonies might influence the differing ways that couples approach marriage and marital breakdown.
Explain how the rituals and vows connected with Christian marriage ceremonies might influence the differing ways that couples approach marriage and marital breakdown.
Marriage is regarded as a sacrament in Roman Catholic Church and also in some Churches of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. It is therefore an indissoluble bond. Another teaching is marriage is that marriage is a permanent relationship and can only be ended by death or annulment in very special circumstances; divorce is unacceptable. The vows said at a wedding back this up: "I (name) do take thee (name) to be my 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 do us part" and "love and honour each other for life". Marriage is believed to be a sacrament because God's love for the Church is reflected in the couple's love.
This is the order of a Roman Catholic marriage service:
. The Introductory Rites
Entrance Antiphon
Candle Ceremony
Greeting
Penitential Rite
Opening Prayer
2. Liturgy of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Responsorial Psalm
New Testament Reading
Alleluia Acclamation
The Gospel Reading
(followed by the Sermon or Homily).
3. The Rite of Marriage
The Address
Declaration of Consent
Blessing of the Rings
Exchange of Gifts (Optional)
Candle Ceremony (Optional)
Prayer of the Newly Married Couple (Optional)
Prayers of the Faithful
4. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Prayer over the Gifts
The Preface
Acclamation of the People
Nuptial Blessing
Communion Antiphon
Prayer After Communion
5. Concluding Rite
Blessing
Dismissal
Marriage is a life long commitment between two people who have vowed to each other before God and witnesses. It was ordained by God at the Creation in order to let human participate in the creation by the producing and nurturing of Children (Genesis 1:27, 2:10-24). Marriage is to help God to continue the human race and to give children a stable and secure upbringing, "...accept children lovingly from God".
Marriage is considered to be a relationship of equals with mutual caring, sharing and sacrifice. The Nuptial Blessing prays that the husband will treat his wife as an "equal". Also, marriage, should enhance the self-worth and spiritual growth of both partners as they get love, support and care from each other and enjoy a fulfilling sexual relationship.
Methodists believe " Christian marriage has a twofold purpose-fellowship and parenthood. Permanence in the union is an essential condition. It both expresses and develops not only constancy in affection, but also spiritual qualities of trust, faithfulness, mutual consideration, reverence and love"
When Pope John Paul II made his pastoral visit to Britain in 1982, he spoke about marriage. He presented this vision of married life:
" A man and a woman pledge themselves to one another in an unbreakable alliance of total mutual self-giving. A total union of love. Love that is not a passing emotion ...
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Methodists believe " Christian marriage has a twofold purpose-fellowship and parenthood. Permanence in the union is an essential condition. It both expresses and develops not only constancy in affection, but also spiritual qualities of trust, faithfulness, mutual consideration, reverence and love"
When Pope John Paul II made his pastoral visit to Britain in 1982, he spoke about marriage. He presented this vision of married life:
" A man and a woman pledge themselves to one another in an unbreakable alliance of total mutual self-giving. A total union of love. Love that is not a passing emotion of temporary infatuation, but a responsible and free decision to bind oneself completely, "in good times and in bad", to one's partner. It is a gift of oneself to the other. It is a love to be proclaimed before the eyes of the whole world".
As marriage is a major, life-long commitment, Churches help to prepare couples for it. Church leaders will counsel and pray with and discuss the Christian teaching about marriage.
....marriage is a gift of God in creation...a holy mystery in which man and woman become one flesh. It is God's purpose that husband and wife shall be united in love as Christ is united with his church.
Marriage is given, that a husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy...that with delight and tenderness they may know each other in love, and, through the joy of their bodily union, may strengthen the union of their hearts and lives... that they may have children and be blessed in caring for them and bringing them up in accordance with God's will, to his praise and glory.
In marriage husband and wife belong to one another, and they begin a new life together in the community. It is a way of life that all should honour, and it must not be undertaken carelessly, lightly or selfishly, but reverently, responsibly and after serious thought...
we pray with them, that, strengthened by God, they may fulfil his purpose for the whole of their earthly life together.
Abridged from the Anglican marriage service in The Alternative Service Book.
Although in many Churches divorce is completely forbidden, many marriages still break up.
Different Christian denominations have come up with different ways of dealing with different marital problems. On the whole the Protestant churches take the view the Jesus' teaching is ideal which married couples should try to live up to, but sadly, the problems faced by some couples force the marriage to be ended. In these cases Protestant churches accept a civil divorce as an end to a marriage. A divorced man or woman may usually remarry.
The Church of England has changed its regulations about divorce and remarriage. Until just recently it did not allow a divorced man to remarry in church. However, since 1981, the General Synod has given parish ministers to remarry divorced people in church.
The Roman Catholic Church takes a rather different view to that of other Christian denominations. It takes the words of the Bible literally: once a Christian marriage has taken place the two have become 'one flesh': the marriage is made by God and cannot be dissolved or ended by any man...only by death, So the Catholic Church says that a civil divorce is not enough. If a couple get divorced, the Church teaches that they are still married in the eyes of God. They are therefore not free to marry again while their previous husband or wife is still alive. However, the RC does allow for the possibility of an annulment. For instance:
* One of the partners might not have understood the marriage vows made at the wedding, or may have even been forced into making them;
* One of the partners might have lied when making the marriage vows
* The couple may have never consummated the marriage (had sexual intercourse together).
"For Roman Catholics, sex is only right within marriage" Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer, showing you have considered more than one point of view.
Some people may agree with this statement by saying that sex is only right within marriage. They may say that keeping sex within marriage gives it a special status. It makes it part of a legal contract or part of a religious or spiritual contract, only experienced when sex is kept within the boundaries of marriage. Keeping sex within marriage makes it dependent on a commitment to spend rest of your life with someone and balances the joy of sex with responsibility to the other person. Also the Catholic Church teaches that children should be brought up in a strong and caring relationship and that having sex outside marriage may end up in a child being brought up in an insecure environment so the only real contraceptive is to only keep sex within marriage.
Other people may disagree with this statement by saying that sex doesn't just have to be kept within marriage. They may say that although the Roman Catholic Church teaches that children should be brought up in a secure relationship, a secure relationship doesn't necessarily mean marriage and therefore sex can be performed outside marriage with the child being brought up in a secure environment. Also a life of chastity before marriage it not the only contraceptive since now-a-days no forms of contraceptive have been produced and therefore sex before marriage (for enjoyment) can safely take place - even outside a secure relationship - without the worry of a child being produced.
I believe that sex before marriage is totally acceptable as main reason that sex before marriage cannot take place is because it may lead to a child being brought up outside a caring and secure relationship cannot be condoned as there are many types of contraceptives that will prevent this from happening. I also believe that sex before marriage is condonable because it helps bring a couple closer together before they get married which could then lead on to a happy, fulfilling married life.
"For Roman Catholics, sex is only right within marriage" Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer, showing you have considered more than one point of view.
Some people may agree with this statement by saying that sex is only right within marriage. They may say that keeping sex within marriage gives it a special status. It makes it part of a legal contract or part of a religious or spiritual contract, only experienced when sex is kept within the boundaries of marriage. Keeping sex within marriage makes it dependent on a commitment to spend rest of your life with someone and balances the joy of sex with responsibility to the other person. Also the Catholic Church teaches that children should be brought up in a strong and caring relationship and that having sex outside marriage may end up in a child being brought up in an insecure environment so the only real contraceptive is to only keep sex within marriage.
Other people may disagree with this statement by saying that sex doesn't just have to be kept within marriage. They may say that although the Roman Catholic Church teaches that children should be brought up in a secure relationship, a secure relationship doesn't necessarily mean marriage and therefore sex can be performed outside marriage with the child being brought up in a secure environment. Also a life of chastity before marriage it not the only contraceptive since now-a-days no forms of contraceptive have been produced and therefore sex before marriage (for enjoyment) can safely take place - even outside a secure relationship - without the worry of a child being produced.
I believe that sex before marriage is totally acceptable as main reason that sex before marriage cannot take place is because it may lead to a child being brought up outside a caring and secure relationship cannot be condoned as there are many types of contraceptives that will prevent this from happening. I also believe that sex before marriage is condonable because it helps bring a couple closer together before they get married which could then lead on to a happy, fulfilling married life.