343. How is the sacrament of Matrimony celebrated?
(Comp
343) Since Matrimony establishes spouses in a public state of life in
the Church, its liturgical celebration is public, taking place in the presence
of a priest (or of a witness authorized by the Church) and other witnesses.
“In brief”
(CCC 1662)
Marriage is based on the consent of the contracting parties, that is, on their
will to give themselves, each to the other, mutually and definitively, in order
to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love. (CCC 1663) Since marriage establishes the couple in a public
state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in
the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest (or a witness
authorized by the Church), the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful.1662 1663
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1621) In the Latin Rite the
celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place
during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the
Paschal mystery of Christ (Cf. SC 61). In the Eucharist the memorial of the New
Covenant is realized, the New Covenant in which Christ has united himself for
ever to the Church, his beloved bride for whom he gave himself up (Cf. LG 6).
It is therefore fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give
themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it
to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic
sacrifice, and by receiving the Eucharist so that, communicating in the same
Body and the same Blood of Christ, they may form but "one body" in
Christ (Cf. 1 Cor 10:17). (CCC 1622)
"Inasmuch as it is a sacramental action of sanctification, the liturgical
celebration of marriage… must be, per se, valid, worthy, and fruitful" (FC
67). It is therefore appropriate for the bride and groom to prepare themselves
for the celebration of their marriage by receiving the sacrament of penance.
Reflection
(CCC 1623) According to the Latin tradition,
the spouses as ministers of Christ's grace mutually confer upon each other the
sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. In the tradition
of the Eastern Churches, the priest (bishops or presbyters) are witnesses to
the mutual consent given by the spouses (cf. CCEO, can. 817) but for the
validity of the sacrament their blessing il also necessary (cf. CCEO, can.
828). (CCC 1624) The various liturgies abound
in prayers of blessing and epiclesis asking God's grace and blessing on the new
couple, especially the bride. In the epiclesis of this sacrament the spouses
receive the Holy Spirit as the communion of love of Christ and the Church (Cf.
Eph 5:32). The Holy Spirit is the seal of their covenant, the ever-available
source of their love and the strength to renew their fidelity.
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