The Sacrament of Matrimony is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, instituted by God and raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament (CCC 1601). This union reflects the faithful and self-giving love of Christ and His Church (CCC 1617). Marriage is both a natural and supernatural bond, ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (CCC 1601).
For a marriage to be valid in the Catholic Church, a baptized Catholic must be married in a Catholic ceremony before a priest or deacon and two witnesses, unless a dispensation is granted (CCC 1630-1631). “The priest (or deacon) who assists at the celebration of a marriage receives the consent of the spouses in the name of the Church and gives the blessing of the Church” (CCC 1630). The sacrament provides special graces to help spouses remain faithful to each other and to fulfill their vocation as a domestic church, raising their children in the Catholic faith. Marriage is an indissoluble bond, mirroring Christ’s love for His Church, and is meant to last a lifetime.