"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; the covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." (Code of Canon Law, canon #1055)
Holy matrimony transcends the mere collaboration that defines the civil institution of marriage. By the grace of God given us through Christ's own gift of Himself on the Cross, a man and woman are joined together in a permenant bond of unbreakable fidelity that lasts for the duration of their earthly life.
As a special participation in Christ's enduring bond with His Bride the Church, the couple joined in the sacrament of marriage are given the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit to make of themselves a total and unreserved gift to each other, and to the children that God blesses them with. By keeping before them the Cross of our Lord, and always drawing from the springs of the Holy Spirit through prayer and participation in the life of the Church, the couple find the strength to endure hardships and setbacks, even to the point of mutual forgiveness. Through the grace of the sacrament, the two become one flesh, as we read in the Book of Genesis.
The " For Your Marriage" website provides very good material about Catholic marriages, the churches teachings, the sacrament of marriage, marital sexuality and spirituality, family planning, interfaith marriages, planning a Catholic wedding and much more.
Arrangements should be made at least 6 months prior to the intended date of the wedding.
Please contact Joyce Rossignol at the parish at 978-562-2552 to schedule an appointment to begin the wedding planning process.
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with "the wedding feast of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church.
God created man and woman out of love and commanded them to imitate his love in their relations with each other. Man and woman were created for each other. "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him. . . . The two of them become one body" (Gn 2:18; 24). Woman and man are equal in human dignity, and in marriage both are united in an unbreakable bond.
Jesus brought to full awareness the divine plan for marriage. In John’s Gospel, Christ’s first miracle occurs at the wedding in Cana. “The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” (CCC, no. 1613).
By their marriage, the couple witnesses Christ's spousal love for the Church. One of the Nuptial Blessings in the liturgical celebration of marriage refers to this in saying, "Father, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his Church."
The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy.
Marriage: United in Love, Strengthened for Service - This short, two-page handout can help Catholics who are preparing for the sacrament of Marriage reflect on our Catholic call to mission in the world.