I.

Etymology and Definition

In Catholicism, matrimony is defined as the “’natural covenant’ of love as the
image/symbol of God the Creator’s absolute and unfailing love” (CFC 1881). In
matrimony, two individuals are called to love one another in sharing God’s own love.

Mater – mother
Monium – action or condition

It is called matermonium because the man is asking the woman to be the mother of
his children as a result of their marriage.

II. Biblical Foundation

MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

Matrimony is a covenant relationship because according to the Scriptures, Jesus tells
us that in the Kingdom of God, the permanent union of husband and wife that God
originally intended can once more be realized (Matthew 19:6-11). By the grace of the
Holy Spirit, husbands and wives can now truly love and honor one another. God’s
covenant with his people was an image of the exclusive and faithful love of husband
and wife. The books of Ruth and Tobit bear witness to fidelity and tenderness within
marriage. The Song of Solomon shows how the love of a man and a woman mirrors
God’s love for his people.

MARRIAGE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN

After God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them saying “Be fertile and multiply,
fill the Earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:27f). Also in Genesis, God says that “it is not
good for man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” (Genesis 2:18).
This suitable helpmate was formed from the very rib of man and thus woman was
“flesh of his flesh” (Genesis 2:22-23). Woman, then, is man’s equal in dignity and the
one closest to his heart. Because man and woman were created for one another, “a
man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become
one flesh” (Genesis 2: 24).

MARRIAGE IS A VOW OF LIFETIME FAITHFULNESS

St. Paul tells us that marriage bears witness to the indissoluble love of Christ for his
Church. Thus, husbands should love their wives, “even as Christ loved the church and
handed himself over for her to sanctify her” (Ephesians 5:25-26). Wives, too, are
called to love their husbands as the Church loves Christ (see Ephesians 5:22-23). The
prophets helped the people see that God had not intended husband and wife to be
 separated (Hosea 1-3; Isaiah 54 and 62; Jeremiah 2-3 and 31; Ezekiel 16 and 23;
Malachi 2:13-17). (Biblical Roots of Marriage, n.d.)

III. History and Theology

● Pre-Catholicism – The early Christians patterned the practices of marriage from
Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures. In both cultures, they considered marriage
exclusively a family matter outside any religious or civil authority. Compared to the
Catholic view on divorce, Judaic and Greco-Roman laws made it easy for spouses to
be divorced. However, Christian leaders in this time heavily criticized divorce as a
grave violation of divine law, since marriage is considered as the indissoluble union
between two people.

● Marriage as a sacrament – It was considered a sacrament during the Council of

Verona in 1184, which was further concretized during the Council of Trent in 1545, in
which they specified the rights and responsibilities of the Church in regulating
marriages. The council also decreed that for a marriage to be considered valid, the
couple must express their consent in the presence of the pastors and two witnesses. In
the 18th century, it was defined that the Church only has power over marriage as a
sacrament while the State has power over marriage as a contract. The Second Vatican
Council emphasized that the consent exchanged between the couple is an “act
whereby spouses mutually bestow and accept each other” (GS, 48) compared to the
1917 code’s definition of consent as “perpetual and exclusive right to the body.” The
council also stressed that procreation, education, and welfare of the offspring as the
culmination of marriage.

IV. Parts and Rites

The entire ceremony consists of the usual major parts of the Mass (Introductory Rites,
Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rites) and the
Celebration of Matrimony, which happens between the Liturgy of the Word and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist.
● Address and Statement of Intentions – the priest asks the bride and groom of
their intentions to marry, mutual fidelity, and the acceptance and upbringing of
children, to which they reply separately “I have” or “I am.”
● Exchange of Consent – in this part, the couple exchange their wedding vows
● Blessing and Giving of Rings – the priest blesses the rings through prayer and
holy water. The groom puts on the bride’s ring on her finger, and the bride
puts on the groom’s ring on his finger.
 In Philippine tradition, there are additional rituals conducted in the ceremony, namely
the Coin Ceremony, Veil Ceremony, Cord Ceremony, and Candle Ceremony.
● Coin Ceremony – 13 coins (representing love, peace commitment, trust,
respect, joy, happiness, nurturing, caring, harmony, wholeness, harmony, and
cooperation) are gifted by the groom to his bride.
● Veil Ceremony – the veil sponsors place one side of the veil over the bride’s
head and the other side over the groom’s shoulder. The veil symbolizes their
unity as a couple, as well as a wish for good health and protection as they live
life as husband and wife.
● Cord Ceremony – a piece of white cord or rope shaped into an infinity sign is
a symbol of the couple’s indissoluble union.
● Candle Ceremony – also known as the Unity Candle, the bride and groom will
light a large white candle as a symbol of the union of their two families

V. Canonical Instructions
Because matrimony is an act of uniting two individuals as one in Christ, it is only
proper for the couple to receive the sacrament of reconciliation as part of preparation
for marriage (CCC 1622).

The couple can only be wed if they freely express their consent (i.e. not being under
constraint, not impeded by any natural or ecclesiastical law). Consent must be mutual
(comes from both parties), external (expressed in words), and present (current).

In the case of mixed marriages (marriage between a Catholic and non-Catholic), the
couple must obtain permission from ecclesiastical authority in their respective
religions (CCC 1635).

The couple cannot be wed if: a.) they are both below legal marriage age, [under the
age of 16] b.) one or both were previously married, c.) one is not baptized, d.) one has
received sacred orders, e.) one has made a public perpetual vow of chastity, f.) one
has been abducted by the other seeking marriage, g.) they are closely related by
blood, h.) they are related by marriage in a prohibited degree, i.) they are related by
concubinage, or j.) related by adoption (CIC, 1083-1094).

VI. Other Information

● Although mixed marriages are permitted by the Church, it is deemed best if the
non-Catholic in the couple is converted to the Christian faith (CCC 1637). However, a
marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person is considered invalid.
 ● The legal marriage age for Catholics is 16 for males, and 14 for females. However, in
the Philippines, the couple must at least be 21 for them to be permitted to marry.
● A Catholic marriage must be performed during Mass. Otherwise, it is invalidated.
● Although rare, in order for a marriage ceremony to take place outside of a church, it
requires permission from the archdiocese. However, it is only permitted for special
cases.

VII. Other Questions

1. Why are rings used in matrimony? – Historically, Egyptians considered the circle
as a symbol for eternity and the ring as a symbol for love. They wore the ring on
their left ring finger because they believed that this is where the vena amoris (vein
of love) is located, which was said to be directly linked to the heart. The early
Romans adapted this tradition.
2. What does marriage have to do with children? – Marriage provides the couple
with three blessings: offspring, fidelity, and sacrament. Offspring is the heart of
every Christian marriage.
3. What is the difference between heterosexual couples and same sex couples? –
Heterosexual couples are united in body and soul because they can conceive
through each other. Same sex couples cannot.
4. What is the Church’s view on single parents? – Although the Church provides
support to single parents, their situation is not deemed ideal because it deprives
the child of a mother/father.
5. What is the Church’s view same sex marriage? – According to the Catechism for
Filipino Catholics, the Church respects homosexuality, but not homosexual acts.
Since the sacrament of matrimony is constitutes a conjugal union between a man
and a woman, anything which deviates is not supported by the Church.
6. Why does the Church not support artificial insemination? – The Church is against
it because it goes against the natural law of conception. Fertilization which takes
place outside of the body, not only somehow dehumanizes the child, but also
deprives the child of the love it needs from the parents.
7. Why is it necessary to have both a mother and father? – A mother and father
bring different gifts to the shared task of parenting. “Every child has a right to
receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child’s integral
and harmonious development (Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia, 172).
 VIII. References
Biblical Roots of Marriage. (n.d.). For Your Marriage Retrieved from:
https://www.foryourmarriage.org/biblical-roots/
Catholic Church. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice
Vaticana.
Codex Iuris Canonici. (1983). Vatican. Retrieved from: http://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-
canonici/cic_index_en.html
Filipino Wedding Traditions. (n.d.). Lin & Jirsa. Retrieved from:
https://www.linandjirsa.com/filipino-wedding-traditions/
History of the Sacrament of Matrimony. (n.d.). Saint John’s Seminary. Retrieved from:
http://www.ldysinger.com/THM_544_Marriage/05_Hist_Devt/00a_start.htm
Kirsch, J.P. (1912). Council of Trent. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert
Appleton Company. Retrieved from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15030c.htm