Matrimony

Marriage is a vocation — a path to holiness walked together. In the Sacrament of Matrimony, a man and a woman give themselves to one another for life, and God himself seals their promise with grace to love faithfully, fruitfully, and forever.

Our parishes are delighted to help you prepare for this joyful day and for the lifelong marriage that follows.

Beginning Your Marriage Preparation

Each of our parishes asks for at least six months of preparation before a wedding is scheduled. This time is a gift — an unhurried opportunity to build your marriage on a strong foundation.

1. Contact your parish office as early as possible (see your parish below).
2. Meet with the priest or marriage coordinator to begin preparation.
3. Complete the marriage preparation process together.
4. Set your wedding date with the parish.

From Sacred Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:1–16 — Directions Concerning Marriage

1Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband. 4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency. 6But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. 7For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.

8But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. 9But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt. 10But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband. 11And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

12For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace. 16For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

1 Corinthians 7:1–16 (Douay-Rheims)

Ephesians 5:21–33 — Called to Mutual Love

21Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. 24As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, 27that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

28So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30because we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

32This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. 33In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 5:21–33 (NABRE)