LEAF

Life-givingExclusive (no-one else)Always (permanent) Faithful

LEAF

What should a Christian marriage be like???

Rites and Symbolism of the

Marriage Ceremony

To know why Marriage is a Sacrament

To describe & explain the importance of the different parts of the marriage rite

To evaluate the conditions needed for a Catholic marriage

What is the Sacrament of Marriage a sign of?

-That marriage is a vocation (to love as God loves)

-That the couple receive the Holy Spirit to be with them in a special way

**What can make the Sacrament of Marriage invalid?

To be valid, a Christian marriage must…

Recognise it to be a sacred & holy union, before God

be an equal loving relationship & spouses take the vows seriously.be open to the

possibility of having children

Partners must be free to marry (not already married, or in Holy Orders)

be freely chosen (not for citizenship, or because parents want it, or the bride is pregnant)

be between a man and a woman

Be in a Church

Be between two Catholics

Be approved by the Pope

Be between adults known to be fertile

1. Write out the correct points. 2. What 2 things would a marriage preparation course help couples to

understand? **Do you think it it is a good thing for churches to insist that all married couples attend a marriage preparation course?

What makes a marriage valid?

1. Match the answers below to your table.Check your answers on p.29. 2. Look up the definition of a “vow” and a “rite” (p.28) Explain the difference.**Think of a way to help you remember the order of marriage. Pictures? Acronym? Mnemonic?

To show sacredness of marriage, designed by God.What married love should be like

Vows are made to each other, before God and witnesses.Promise LEAF.

So it is recognised as a civil marriage as well, & recognised in law.

Explains that congregation are witnesses, should support coupleIt is a sacrament & vocation to which God has called them.

Symbolises Unending love.Exclusive faithfulness to that one person

- Are they free to marry?- To honour and love for ever?- Open to children?Strengthen the marriage by bringing Christ into the marriageGod to bless their married love - to be lasting, supportive, and blessed with

children

The Marriage Rite/ Ceremony

1. Welcome and purpose To all the congregation • Explains that congregation are witnesses, should support couple

• It is a sacrament & vocation to which God has called them.

2. Readings Readings from Bible and Homily

To show sacredness of marriage, designed by God.What married love should be like

3. Questions By the priest to the couple - Are they free to marry?- To honour and love for ever?- Open to children?

4. Exchange of vows .. To have and to hold from this day forward, richer for poorer, sickness and in health, death do us part

• Vows are made to each other, before God and witnesses.

• Promise exclusive, lifelong faithfulness and support (EAF)

5. Exchange of rings ‘take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity”

• Unending love.• Exclusive faithfulness to that one person

6. Nuptial Blessing Of the couple God to bless their married love - to be lasting, supportive, and blessed with children

7. Communion Received first by the couple, then congregation

Strengthen the marriage by bringing Christ into the marriage

8. Signing of register Newlyweds and 2 witnesses sign register

So it is recognised as a civil marriage as well, & recognised in law.

To be valid, a Christian marriage must…1. both partners are…………. (not already

married, or in Holy Orders)2. choose to marry ………………… (not for

citizenship, because parents want it, or the bride is pregnant)

3. are open to the possibility of having …………….

4. have a ………………attitude to marriage as an equal loving relationship & mean to take the………seriously.

5. understand that it is a …………………….. and a …………………, solemn covenant/ agreement.

freely

free to marry

children

responsible

vows

Sacrament

sacred

Marriage Rite – tell your partner the order**What vows do they make to each other?

• Wicked Russian Queen Vampires Ride Nightly By Country Roads

welcomereadings

questionsvows

ringsNuptial blessing

Holy CommunionSigning Register

Explain the meaning and importance of marriage in the Roman Catholic Church. • 6marks

Candidates may include some of the following points:

• Sacramental / sign for all to see / a solemn contract /• reflection of God’s love for us – Christ’s love for the Church (Ephesians 5 25) /

• life-giving and fruitful / procreation expected / sexual activity open to thepossibility of new life / children to be brought up in a Christianenvironment /

• exclusive & faithful/ sexual relationships outsideof marriage are forbidden as they fail to be a sign of the sacrament /lived out in the community /

• permanent and irrevocable, a life-long, loving relationship / cannotbe broken / rings symbolise never-ending nature /

reference to parts of the rite of marriage that illustrate its importance should be credited.

• What promises do the bride and groom make during a Christian marriage service? (Total 4 marks)• • Explain how keeping these promises might help a couple to have a successful marriage.• (Total 4 marks)• • 8. Why do many Christians want to get married in a church?• (Total 2 marks)• • Christians believe that marriage is a sacrament and should be conducted in a Church. They want God to bless their

marriage. They want the priest to witness the exchange of vows; they want God to bless their union and be part of their marriage. Marriage is a sacred public ceremony and therefore it should be performed in a public and holy place.

• (Do not allow superficial responses that show no Christian content, e.g. ‘It looks nice on the photos!’ You may allow tradition but it must be linked into some other development with clear Christian content. ‘Because it is tradition’ – on its own would score no marks.)

• [2]• • 9. What does the Christian Church teach about marriage? (Total 3 marks)• • Marriage is a gift from God; a means whereby a couple can share in the work of creation by the birth and nurturing of

children; it is a sacrament; it should be to the exclusion of all others; it is a permanent bond dissoluble only by death; it is for the mutual care and help of each partner throughout their lives; it is a lifelong commitment based upon the teachings of Jesus.It is the correct relationship for sex. It involves entering into a lifelong, loving and exclusive relationship similar to the relationship that Christ has with his Church, etc.

•

• • 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.• If these vows are given in full, full marks may be given. Failing that, credit may be given for the following points:• To be faithful.• To bring children into the world and to give them a secure loving home.