The Catholic Church has considered marriage to be a holy sacrament since Jesus said, "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
When learning about the seven sacraments -- baptism, Eucharist, reconciliation, confirmation, anointing the sick, holy orders and matrimony -- children can relate to the first four; they've either experienced their own or they've witnessed and celebrated with relatives. Matrimony, however, is a sacrament few children understand. It is complicated by today's high rate of divorce, remarriage, annulments and today's lifestyles that break from the church's wish for a lifelong union.
Teaching young Catholics about the sacrament of matrimony invariably leads to questions about civil marriage and how it relates to the church's holy union between a man and a woman. In the eyes of the church, a Catholic wedding is a permanent union between two people, and cannot be broken.
The definition of marriage has changed from country to country, state to state, over many years, but the sacrament of matrimony in the Catholic Church remains a sacred bond between a man and a woman.
Activities for Teaching the Sacrament of Matrimony
- Parents' marriage -- Children should be encouraged to ask their parents about their marriage ceremony. Who was in their wedding party? What does the couple remember about that day? What do they recall about their wedding vows? Children in CCD class can take turns sharing their parents' wedding story and showing photographs with the class. At the end of the discussion, CCD teachers can share their own wedding story or that of their parents and emphasize the parts of the wedding that are unique to the Catholic sacrament of marriage.
- The symbols of marriage - A church wedding is full of symbols of marriage that have meaning in the Catholic faith. The rings symbolize the continuity of the sacrament of matrimony, and that the marriage vows are forever. A white wedding gown is a reminder of the white baptismal garment worn when a Catholic first joins the Christian family, and in a wedding ceremony represents the start of another new family. The bride carries a bouquet of flowers, an ancient symbol of fertility and a call for protection upon the new couple. Often a bouquet of flowers is laid at the feet of a statue of Mary.
- The wedding blessing - A Catholic Church wedding includes wedding vows and a priest's blessing. When discussing the sacrament of matrimony, children may enjoy reading the marriage ceremony, traditional wedding vows and the wedding blessing. Children can write the wedding blessing - "May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." - around a drawing of two intertwined rings.
A lesson on the sacrament of matrimony is part of a well-rounded instruction on all seven sacraments and important for children's understanding of the tenets of their faith.
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