Marriage

What exactly is Marriage?
 

All love comes from God and reflects God's love for His creation. Marriage, which is called the Sacrament of Matrimony, is a sign and symbol of this love. Marriage is a Sacrament of the self-giving love that two people offer to each other, a love that mirrors the love God has for his children. The joy and mutual support of married love can be a source of strength which enables a couple to serve their family and others in a very powerful way, spilling out to their children and to those around them and becoming a source of life, hope and comfort for those around them.

But what actually happens?

The act of getting married is most commonly referred to as a "wedding," and in the Catholic Church, weddings can take place either within or outside of Mass. In either case, the focus of the ceremony is on the couple's willingness to unite themselves together before the community, the Church, and God. One interesting and beautiful aspect of a Catholic wedding ceremony is that the bride and groom are truly the ones in charge of this moment. The Church refers to them, not the priest, as the true ministers of this Sacrament, as they are the ones offering their lives to each other. In the midst of the exchange of rings and other rich and meaningful symbols, the pivotal moment comes when the bride and groom exchange their consent to one another, promising to be there for each other through anything and everything either "all the days of my life" or "until death do us part." It's a beautiful moment in which the man and woman offer themselves in a total and unconditional way to each other, reflecting the sense of dedication and sacrifice that God has for his people and that any married couple will need as they experience the challenges and successes of life together.
 

If you're thinking about celebrating the Sacrament of Matrimony here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, we're excited to hear it! Please know that we ask you to contact us at least six (6) months ahead so that we are sure to have enough time to complete our marriage preparation process with you. To learn more about getting married here or to begin the process of planning your wedding with us, please contact the Parish Office (203-248-0141).

In addition, you can CLICK HERE to find a digital copy of our Wedding Information Sheet.
 

And finally, for some more insight into what Marriage is all about, please check out the video below: