What is Marriage?
Marriage is a union between a man and a woman and a promise to serve each other and God for the rest of their earthly lives. The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. It is a relationship between a husband and a wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, only valid in the presence of a priest.
Why is Marriage Important?
Marriage in the Catholic Church is so important because it is more than just a permanent commitment. It is the place where a man and a woman seek—and find—deep union with each other. It is where spouses cooperate with God in the creation of new life. It is a channel of divine grace, and a place of life-long support and love—love which is a beacon of God’s own love for us, a testament of faith to the world.
Who Can be Married?
To be married in the Church a man and woman must be baptized. It requires full consent of both parties, and Marriage Preparation Classes through St. Mary Magdalene.
The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. CCC 1660