Jasmin Grace L.

Jamelano
RS 35-ISCA Church and Sacraments
Sacrament of Matrimony
There is this moment where I have thought so many things or matters concerning
this sacrament of matrimony, thoughts that kept running in my mind. I then asked
myself, What is it like to be married to the one you truly love?, What is this sacrament
really means and how would this affect the lives of every person/ couple?, What about
its core purpose?
One of the common and the most unique tradition of every religion today is the
last of the seven sacraments of God which is the sacrament of matrimony. Marriage or
matrimony according to CCC 1602-5, is a unique sacrament in that the vocation of
marriage itself is a foundational human reality built into the very created nature of man
and woman, with its own profound meaning. It is also stated in Genesis 1:27f that God
created man and woman in His image and blessed them saying Be fertile and multiply,
fill the earth and subdue it. Based from these sayings, I can say that marriage is really
evident and is present the moment God had created Adam and Eve, that this sacrament
is already built and part of the created nature of man and woman even before the
existence of different teachings of the different religions today. For me, the sacrament of
matrimony perfects the concept of the holy family. A holy family, in a sense that it is a
lifelong process, irrevocable (final), and indissoluble unity. Marriage is a lifelong process
and an irrevocable matter because this union sealed by this sacrament is final, cannot
be changed or destroyed, and a lasting union. Marriage is also an indissoluble unity
between couples because there is no power on earth, not even the church and the
Pope, can dissolve the bond in the point of view of the Catholic religion. The unity here
does not refer only to the physical unity, but rather the unity of two persons in all their
basic human levels physical, psychological, and spiritual, or body, mind, heart or spirit.
Thus, I strongly agree that marriage is the intimate partnership of life and love between
couples.

I learned that the matter of this sacrament is none other than the baptized couple
themselves, and not those tangible materials used in preparation or in the rite. For the
form of this sacrament, it is the exchange of the wedding vows of the couples. In every
sacrament there is an official minister who can administer the said sacrament but for the
sacrament of matrimony, the couples who are getting married administer the sacrament
of Matrimony to each other. This sacrament truly amazes me and helped me to open up
my mind concerning with all of these matter. The priest, in the other hand, cannot
administer the sacrament of Matrimony. The priest is simply the official witness,
representing Christ and Christ's Church.
Marriage is such a big thing to deal with since receiving this sacrament means to
be tied to greater responsibilities, responsibilities to the family, to the community, and to
the Catholic Church which is to share in the light and mission of the church to be a
sharer and partaker of Gods divine goodness and love. It is indeed so wonderful to find,
meet, and be together with the one destined for us. For me, it will be truly the best gift
that I could receive from God. To be with the person whom I could share everything
every aspect of my life and will be my forever partner in life.