The Church has a rich tradition on sacramental marriage and covenantal union. The Old Testament authors write of God making a covenant with the chosen people and promising them that they will never be forsaken. The New Testament authors write of Jesus as the new covenant and compare the relationship of Jesus with the Church to the relationship of a husband and wife.
The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership for the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.
Matrimony, or Marriage, like Holy Orders, is a sacrament that consecrates for a particular mission in building up the Church. It is seen as a sign of the love between Christ and the Church, which is established between spouses in a permanent and exclusive bond, sealed by God. The Sacrament gives couples the grace they need to attain holiness in their married life and for responsible acceptance and upbringing of their children.
Please contact us about the process for getting married in the Catholic Church, we recommend that you do that before anything else. You must meet with a priest - AT LEAST six months in advance of your wedding. We look forward to working with you to plan your Wedding here in the Reading Catholic Community, either at St. Agnes Parish or at St. Athanasius Parish.
The BEST person to ask your question(s) is the priest or deacon officiating your ceremony. Please contact the office at 781.944.0330 or Contact@ReadingCatholic.org.