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St. Joseph Catholic Church

1875 S C R 700 W
North Vernon, IN 47265

Rev. Jonathan P. Meyer, Administrator

Office Hours:

Monday Office closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 AM till 12:30 PM

St. Joseph Rectory Phone: 812-346-4783
Fax: 812-352-9033

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Interesting questions about the Holy Sacrament of Marriage

It is the wedding season. Between now and the end of the year I have 12 weddings to witness. Thus, for the next few weeks I would like to cover some interesting questions about the Holy Sacrament of Marriage.

Why do we call marriage a sacrament? As Catholics we often refer to “marriage” as the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The basic definition of a sacrament is: a sign or a symbol, instituted by Christ that brings forth grace. Sacraments make Christ present in our midst and assist us in being conformed to Christ and His Mission. Like the other sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders), marriage is not just for the good of individuals, or the couple themselves, but for the community as a whole. Sacraments make people holy. Let’s look at the definition of sacrament in its relationship to Holy Matrimony: A Sign or a Symbol: What is the physical sign or symbol? In Baptism it is water, in the Eucharist it is the bread and wine. In Holy Matrimony it is the body of the man and the body of the women that are the physical “stuff” that make the sacrament of Holy Matrimony Instituted by Christ: Where in the Bible is this sacrament found? Holy Matrimony is “instituted” in Sacred Scripture at the wedding at Cana, John Chapter 2, when Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast. Through this miracle Jesus took something ordinary and elevated it to something greater. Marriage is also explained in Ephesians Chapter 5. This scripture passage is explicit in its understanding of Marriage as a sacrament. Brings forth Grace: What grace is given? Grace, in its basic definition, is the Life of Christ living within us! Marriage helps people receive this grace by: ~living lives in committed, covenantal faithfulness ~perfecting the couples love for each other ~strengthens their indissoluble unity ~helps them to attain holiness as a couple ~assists them to be open to life and the education and formation of their children ~widens their ability to forgive one another and bear one another’s burdens ~to love one another with supernatural, tender and fruitful love Marriage is numbered among the Seven Sacraments because it is given to us by Christ to aid us on the road to heaven. Yet there is still a question. What does the couple symbolize? Who do they represent? In Baptism, water symbolizes and brings about cleansing and new life. In the Eucharist, bread and wine symbolize and become heavenly food. So what do two human bodies of the opposite sex symbolize? The Old Testament prophets saw the marriage of a man and woman as a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The permanent and exclusive union between husband and wife mirrors the mutual commitment between God and His people. The New Testament says that this union is a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the Church. The man is a symbol of Christ and the woman is a symbol of the Church. Their exclusive, faithful and fruitful union is intended, by Christ, to be a living witness of the union between Christ and His Church. An amazing symbol and a lot to live up too!