REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF

MATRIMONY

Lesson 19

“Speak now or forever hold your peace!”

Matrimony - covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring.

Catholic Church Sacrament of Matrimony/ Catholic Marriage - the only valid marriage for Catholics in a Catholic Church. - one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The Church restricts sacramental marriage to men and women who meet certain requirements.

Civil Marriage – not accepted by the Church

However, in our country, a Church marriage is accepted by the civil law. The requirements of a Church marriage includes those imposed by civil law and Church law.

Requirements1. Civil

a. the couple must be at least 18 years old. b. the couple must undergo a seminar on family planning and obtain a certificate of attendance of the same c. the couple must file an application for a marriage license, and after at least ten days, claim their license.

Requirements

2. Church a. the couple must fill the requirements of the civil law b. the couple must present themselves to the parish priest for interview and for the wedding arrangements, preferably, at least three weeks before the planned date of marriage

Requirements c. if baptized in another parish, they must present their baptismal certificates for the purpose of marriage d. they may be asked by the parish to report for premarital counseling or for a pre-cana conference e. the couple must signify that they are going to receive the sacrament on their own free will and in faith