Catholic wedding. How is the wedding in the Catholic Church

The Catholic and Orthodox churches, according to priests, are very close to each other. But at the same time, they have a number of differences that you need to know if you decide to get married in a Catholic church.

Preparing for the wedding

Catholics know that it is necessary to come to the church three months before the ceremony. During this period, the newlyweds are preparing for the wedding in the Catholic Church. The priest tells them about marriage from the standpoint of Catholicism. There is even a special book on how to hold ten meetings with newlyweds who want to get married according to the Catholic rite.

During this kind of training before a Catholic wedding, young people study the understanding of the family in the Catholic faith and, if they did not know, prayers: "Our Father", "To the Virgin Mary", "I believe."

Priests believe that such a "school" is very important for young people, because the Catholic faith is very strict. For example, a great sin is the use of contraceptives (condoms, spirals, pills). The newlyweds are explained the sinfulness of these methods and are told about the natural method of family planning, from the standpoint of the Catholic faith.

The wedding is held only after the registration of the marriage.

Catholic wedding of representatives of different faiths

When marrying representatives of different faiths, for example, Catholic and Orthodox, there are some nuances that you need to know before going through the ceremony. Children born in this marriage must be baptized and brought up in the Catholic faith.

Newlyweds should know and accept this.

The priest who prepares the newlyweds for the ceremony must obtain permission to marry such a couple. He fills out special papers on which the newlyweds must confirm their promise to raise children. The representative of the Catholic faith - to sign under the promise, and the Orthodox - under the notice of this promise. Permission to marry in the Catholic Church is given by the bishop.

Special permission is also required in the case of the marriage of a Catholic with a Muslim, Jew, or atheist. The differences between these cultures, the difference in worldviews are very great, and young people must be explained the possible consequences of such a marriage.

When can you get married

Unlike Orthodox wedding traditions, a Catholic wedding ceremony can be performed on any day, even during Lent. The only rule is not to celebrate the wedding (not to arrange a festive celebration) if the wedding is held in Lent.

Who can't get married

They do not conduct a wedding ceremony in the Catholic Church for blood relatives, as well as for people who are married to a third party. Here, too, there is a difference from Orthodoxy. There is no divorce (dethroning) in the Catholic Church. If one of the newlyweds was previously married, even in the Orthodox Church, he cannot be married according to the Catholic rite.

During the preparation for the wedding, the priest asks the newlyweds questions, trying to find out possible obstacles to marriage. Impotence of one of them can also be such an obstacle. Moreover, it is clarified that it is the inability to have sexual intercourse, and not infertility. A marriage is considered invalid if the priest performed the wedding ceremony without knowing about this fact.

wedding ceremony

The Catholic wedding begins with a liturgy, prayer and sermon, with which the priest once again emphasizes the importance of this step for the newlyweds.

After, he asks the newlyweds three questions:

Did you come here voluntarily and freely want to enter into a marital union?

Are you ready to love and respect each other all your life?

Are you ready to lovingly receive children from God and raise them according to the teachings of Christ and the church?

If the answer to all questions was "yes", the priest prays for the descent of the Holy Spirit on the newlywed couple. After that, the newlyweds say the words of the oath to each other.

At the wedding ceremony in the Catholic Church, you can do without wedding rings. If the newlyweds want, the priest will bless the rings, but the main rite is the pronunciation of the marital oath and receiving grace.

42804 views

Marriage plays an important role in the life of representatives of the Catholic Church. This Christian rite has been known since the 4th century AD. The concepts of "marriage" and "wedding", in contrast to the Orthodox tradition, are actually identical to the wedding ceremony, therefore, along with the high responsibility of those who decide to go through the betrothal in the church, the preparation for the celebration is also very strict.

From the point of view of the Catholic Church, the sacrament is inherent in:

holiness- binding two people with God;
unity- union of spouses into one whole;
indissolubility- the eternity of the marriage union even in the afterlife; divorce is possible in very rare cases.

Interesting! In Christianity, the family, that is, the church union of a man and a woman, is called the "small" or "house church."

Terms & Conditions

To adequately prepare for the wedding ceremony, Future spouses must meet several conditions:

apply 3 months before the wedding to the clergyman of the parish where they intend to conduct the marriage ceremony;
be in an officially registered marriage;
undergo special premarital training.

You need to know the basic prayers and rituals of the Catholic Church:

"Our Father";
"Symbol of faith";
"To the Virgin Mary";
gospel commandments;
6 truths of faith;
5 church commandments;
"Angel of the Lord";
holy Rosary;
the order of baptism;
church sacraments;
preparation at home for the sacrament of the sick;
5 conditions of the sacrament of reconciliation.

Training

At the first meeting with the priest, the young (they are also called the betrothed) agree on the procedure for passing special premarital courses to get acquainted with the Catholic foundations of marriage, family, and the role of spouses in raising children.

So, the Catholic Church is categorically against the use of any contraception and considers it a great sin. Only the physiological method of planning the birth of a child is acceptable.

The need for active participation in the life of the church, the observance of Christian commandments, and the introduction of children to the faith is discussed. Usually there are 10 such conversations.

Interesting! In the Catholic tradition, there is a custom, that is, young people inform their relatives and friends about their intention to marry.

The bride and groom must prepare and undergo the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist (communion), which are preceded by fasting.

Betrothal of young people of different faiths

The most common situation is when both spouses belong to the Catholic Church. In this case, there are no canonical obstacles for marriage. But it happens that one of them is a representative of another religion. In this case, there are a number of features during the wedding.

Catholic and Orthodox or Protestant

If one of the betrothed belongs to another Christian denomination (Orthodoxy, Protestantism), then permission for such a marriage is given by the bishop of the corresponding diocese.

Important! Catholicism also recognizes marriages performed in the Orthodox Church as legal.

The newlyweds make a promise to raise their future children in the Catholic faith. Information about the married couple and the signatures of the spouses under such a promise are entered in a special form.

Marriage with an unbaptized

If one of the spouses is unbaptized (atheist, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist), that is, does not belong to Christianity, then getting the permission of the bishop becomes much more difficult.

There is no canonical ban on such a marriage, but each case is considered individually. With the betrothed, the clergyman talks about the difference in cultures and the possible difficulties of such a union. The final decision rests with the bishop.

right time

The sacrament of the wedding according to the Catholic rite is performed almost all year round. Spouses themselves usually prefer to get married outside of fasting days, but there is no direct prohibition on this.

When entering into marriage during fasting, one should not arrange a loud celebration after the ceremony with a lot and noisy feast.

Church wedding bans

The sacrament of marriage is prohibited in the following cases:

those intending to enter into a church marriage are relatives (father and daughter, brother and sister) or half-brother and sister;
one of the possible spouses is already in a church marriage;
the physical impossibility of one of the spouses to perform marital duties, but infertility is not an obstacle to participation in the wedding;
the commission by one of the spouses of the murder of a husband or wife for the sake of entering into a new marriage;
the betrothed are cousins (theoretically, such a union is possible with the permission of the bishop, but in practice it is issued in exceptional cases);
one of those wishing to marry is a clergyman or a monk (nun).

Even if the sacrament of the wedding was performed, and later the circumstances listed above became clear, the ceremony is considered invalid.

According to the Catholic Church, marriage is indissoluble. A marriage can only be canceled by the death of one of the spouses. In the Catholic Church, unlike the Orthodox, there is no possibility of debunking. After a divorce (without a previous wedding), you must provide a certificate of divorce.

The documents

At the first meeting with the clergyman before preparing for the ceremony, future spouses should bring the following documents:

the passport;
baptismal certificate;
Marriage certificate.

The last document that is issued after the completion of the training is a certificate of completion of special courses for newlyweds.

Ceremony in the church

There is no strictly regulated order of the rite, the same for all dioceses. It may differ depending on the area and the priest who conducts the wedding. However, a number of characteristic details still exist.

The ceremony is performed by a priest. On special occasions, a pious layman may replace him.

Start

Usually the wedding ceremony is held in the church. Usually, the bride is brought to the altar by her father or another man who has taken the responsibility of caring for her(uncle, elder brother). They are followed by little girls who scatter flower petals from a basket. At this time, the groom with witnesses and other guests is waiting for his future wife in the temple.

Less often, newlyweds enter the church together, holding hands. The bride is not required to wear a wedding dress, and the groom is not required to wear a suit. All that is required is the observance of neatness, corresponding to the solemnity of the sacrament. At the altar, the betrothed stand or sit on special chairs with cushions.

The Catholic tradition requires the participation of witnesses (up to three people on each side). Witnesses may belong to any Christian denomination. Bridesmaids are often dressed in identical dresses. A special role is given to a little girl from among the guests, who is dressed up in a wedding dress. It symbolizes purity, purity and spirituality of the future marriage.

Liturgy

The wedding ceremony is preceded by a liturgy, after which the priest reads small fragments from the Bible and delivers a sermon on the importance of church marriage, the role of each spouse in the family, and the need for careful upbringing of children.

Then there is a conversation between the wedding couple and the clergyman, during which he asks the future spouses questions about the presence of any obstacles to marriage:

Have you come to the temple voluntarily, and is your desire to enter into a legal marriage sincere and free?
Are you ready to be faithful to each other in sickness and health, in happiness and in misfortune, until the end of your life?
Do you have the intention to lovingly and gratefully accept the children that God will send you and raise them according to the teachings of the church?

These questions make it possible to ascertain the sincere and free desire of the young, their Christian view of the sacrament of the wedding and family ties.

Vows and betrothal

If the young people answered yes to all questions, the priest asks the Holy Spirit to descend on the spouses. They give each other hands, which the priest ties together with a ribbon. Then the newlyweds, standing face to face, read their marriage vows and take a vow of fidelity. The groom does it first, followed by the bride. Often they supplement them with their own words about love, gratitude to relatives and friends.

Interesting! Earlier in the Catholic Church, there was a custom to decorate the gates of the temple with metal ringing objects to attract good luck to the future family.

After the oath, the main witness of the groom gives him wedding rings, the groom puts the ring on the bride's ring finger, and she puts it on the groom. The priest says the prayer "Our Father", the Intercessory Prayer and blesses the newlyweds. Newly made spouses sign in the accounting church book.

Wedding rings are not a mandatory attribute of a wedding in Catholicism. In their presence, the clergyman conducts the rite of consecration. Rings are an addition to the ceremony itself, which symbolize the fidelity of the newlyweds and their receipt of grace.

In most Catholic countries: France, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia, the ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand. On the right hand, a wedding ring is worn in Poland, Austria, Spain, Argentina.

The whole sacrament of the wedding takes about half an hour in duration.

Useful video

- one of the most beautiful, important and tender sacraments. To visualize the beauty of the Catholic rite, watch a short video:

Conclusion

The wedding ceremony in the life of believing Catholics occupies a special place, because it is held only once in a lifetime. Knowledge of all accepted traditions allows this sacrament to be performed in accordance with the church canon and make it special. In Catholicism, it is also customary to solemnly celebrate the first anniversary of marriage. The couple take part in the liturgy, celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist and re-pronounce their vows.

catholic wedding

catholic wedding
"People meet, people fall in love, get married." And today, the wedding has come into fashion as an obligatory attribute of the celebration. Love comes suddenly, and it’s so common that we don’t choose our soul mate by religion, so situations often arise when young people profess different religions. And what if the bride is Orthodox and the groom is Catholic?
Catholics have a slightly different attitude towards the sacrament of the wedding. The concepts of "wedding" and "wedding", they are not separable. Without fail, a Catholic wedding ceremony should take place, but no one has canceled the state registration of marriage. What if your significant other wants to get married, and only according to the Catholic rite Let's dwell on this in more detail. It is possible to single out the main features of the Catholic wedding ceremony.
Both the groom and the bride may have not one, but several witnesses (usually up to three). At the same time, one of them must be a Catholic. If there are persons of a different religion among the witnesses, on the eve of the ceremony they must be explained the basic ritual requirements of a Catholic wedding.
Before the Catholic wedding, a day or two, a small rehearsal is necessarily held, where the clergyman explains how the ceremony will take place and tells the spouses where they should stand and what to say.
An important role in the Catholic wedding is given to the father of the bride. He leads her by the arm into the temple and leads her to the altar along a beautifully decorated path, where the groom is waiting.
During the ceremony, the veil or long train of the bride's dress is supported by a girl walking nearby, aged 3-5 years, always dressed in a scarlet or white wedding dress. If the bride's outfit does not involve a train and a long veil, then this little companion can simply walk alongside, showering the passage to the altar with rose petals.
It should be noted that according to Catholic customs, young people must carefully prepare for the wedding ceremony. Often, during the previous 6 months, young people must attend church classes, in which they are prepared for the sacrament of marriage, and on the eve of the Catholic wedding, confess. There is an opinion among Orthodox laity that the Catholic Church does not allow marriage with people of another religion. According to Orthodox canons, a clergyman can refuse to perform a ceremony for young people only in 3 cases: 1) if one of the newlyweds is already married; 2) if one of the marrying monks or nuns; 3) if one of the spouses is a Muslim. The dogma regarding the non-acceptance of marriage with persons of another religion arose as a result of the existing prohibition. However, in recent years it has been allowed between a Catholic and a non-believer.
When deciding on a Catholic wedding ceremony, one should also take into account the fact that a spiritual Catholic marriage cannot be broken. In this sense, the Orthodox Church is more liberal and allows the possibility of divorce in some cases. In addition, unlike the Orthodox Church, where the wedding is not performed on the days of fasting, church holidays, etc. a Catholic wedding can take place on any day. The exception is the 40-day period before the Catholic Easter, as well as the 4-week period before the Catholic Christmas
Strict requirements are imposed on the wedding dress of the bride, who decided on the ceremony of a Catholic wedding, as well as an Orthodox one. Firstly, it is better to choose a dress in light colors. It can be classic white, or ivory, as well as "champagne". Acceptable, may be beige, pink or blue shades. You should not choose bright, flashy colors for a dress for a Catholic wedding. It should be remembered that Catholics are mostly conservative people, and in a bright outfit, the bride will become the object of increased attention to her own person and may face disapproving looks from others. In addition, bright colors at the wedding are not for all girls. Secondly, it should be recalled that the length of the wedding dress should be at least below the knees, in addition, the lower part of the dress should not be too revealing. You should not choose styles with cuts that unnecessarily open the legs. If the top of the dress is low-cut, it should be complemented with a cape. For romantic natures, you should choose a wedding dress with a train, and in order to be comfortable in it, there must be an inconspicuous loop on the train that you can put on your finger. It is better for a bride at a Catholic wedding to choose an elegant veil as a headdress.

Church wedding: rules

The rules for marriage established by civil law differ significantly from those that are church canons. It is safe to say that not every family union, formalized in accordance with all state standards, can be allowed to be covered in the Sacrament of Marriage.

The Orthodox Church forbids:

fourth and subsequent weddings
if the newlyweds (or one of them) consider themselves staunch atheists, but decide to bless their marriage in the temple at the insistence of the second half or relatives
when the young are close relatives up to the fourth generation, i.e. second cousins and sister
to marry without being baptized
if one of those entering into a marriage according to documents is in a family relationship with another person
permission for the marriage of godparents and godchildren can only be obtained from the ruling bishop. The same applies to a family union between two recipients of the same child.
those who have received holy orders or have taken monastic vows.

If the young did not receive parental blessing for the Sacrament of marriage, this is certainly an unfortunate fact. But when the bride and groom are of age, this will not become an obstacle to the marriage.

Preparing for the wedding

Marriage is not only a bright and beautiful holiday that lovers will remember all their lives, but also a very serious step that places great responsibility on them. Proper preparation for this event is as important as the sacrament itself. First of all, you need to decide on the date, it is important to remember that, according to Orthodox canons, a wedding cannot be held during any fast. Also, a couple in love is forbidden to go to the altar at Christmas time, on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

With each new year, the holiday dates in the Orthodox calendar shift a little, you can clarify the information by contacting any church or icon shop. Nowadays, this can be done quickly by going to an Internet site dedicated to the Sacrament of Marriage. Before the newlyweds begin preparing for the wedding, they need to decide on several important issues.

Choosing a temple

Approximately two to three weeks before the desired date, the couple must choose a temple for marriage. His ministers will report what rules they adhere to:

how long does the wedding ceremony take (from 30 to 90 minutes)
is it allowed to marry one couple of newlyweds
Are photos and videos allowed?
where guests should be

The wedding ceremony is paid, its cost in different churches can vary within a fairly wide range. In special cases, you can arrange to conduct the ceremony outside the Temple, for example, if one of the spouses is sick and cannot come.

Wedding suit and dress

The costumes in which the young are present at the marriage ceremony symbolize innocence, modesty and purity. When choosing a dress for this ceremony, you need to pay attention to its color. Outfits of pastel colors will look great: white, pale pink, beige and others. The magnificent white wedding dress was borrowed by us from Europe. According to the bride, they could wear an outfit of any color, but not too colorful.

Another characteristic feature of a wedding dress is modesty. The dress in which the bride will be in the church should be chaste, which means that it should not have all kinds of deep cuts and necklines. It is also necessary to cover the back, shoulders and legs, the minimum length of the skirt should be up to the knee. If you still chose a fairly open dress for the wedding, then it can be supplemented with accessories that will help correct the situation. It can be long gloves, a lace bolero, an openwork shawl or an airy stole. Wedding dresses cannot be given or sold, as well as all the attributes used for this ceremony.

What do you need for a wedding

Before starting family life according to Orthodox canons, it is necessary to undergo spiritual preparation. Future spouses must necessarily confess, as well as take communion. For the rite itself, it is necessary to purchase two icons: one - the Savior, and the second - the Mother of God, to bless the young couple. Previously, these icons were kept in the parental home and passed from generation to generation.

An obligatory attribute for the wedding process are wedding rings. They serve as a sign of eternal love and the strength of the marriage union. Previously, rings for a young couple were made from different metals. Gold was intended for the spouse, it was a symbol of the main luminary in the sky - the sun. Silver was like the moon, it was worn on the wife's hand. Today, as a rule, identical gold or silver rings are bought for young people.

It is also necessary to remember that for a wedding in a church you need to purchase a white towel and candles. The lit candles that a young couple holds in their hands during the ceremony symbolize the fiery and pure love that should burn in their hearts all their lives. The white towel that is laid under the feet of those entering into marriage reflects the purity of their intentions.

How is the wedding in the Orthodox Church

In the old days, the church ceremony of marriage was held before the civil procedure. The young man was supposed to be the first to come to the temple and patiently wait for the arrival of his chosen one. Thus, the groom showed that he had the most serious intentions. The bride was informed that the young man had arrived, and only after that she went to church. Today, the newlyweds come directly from the registry office to the wedding and, at the appointed time, the priest begins the solemn liturgy. Church marriage includes two stages - first betrothal and only then the main ceremony.

The wedding process goes like this. First, the deacon takes out the wedding rings of the young, and the priest at this time lights the candles held by the bride and groom. Then he invites the couple in love to perform the ceremony of exchanging rings. Young people must move them to each other three times and then each put on his own. This symbolizes mutual assistance and complete harmony in family life.

Next, the priest takes the wedding crown, crosswise marks the young with it. The crown is placed on the head of the future spouse after he is applied with his lips to the image of the Savior. The same ritual is carried out with the young woman, only her wedding crown is decorated with the image of the Mother of God. In the event that the magnificent hairstyle of the bride prevents the laying of a crown, a witness should hold it over the head of the young woman. During the second wedding ceremony in the Orthodox Church, the crowns are held on the shoulders of the couple. And the third time the Sacrament is performed without them.

Then a cup filled with wine is taken out, and the priest passes it to the young people. They drink the contents in three doses, passing each other. This ritual symbolizes that a couple in love becomes one. From this moment on, everything becomes common for them, and they must support each other in sorrow and joy. After that, the priest takes the hands of the young, unites them and leads the bride and groom to the altar. Young people must go around the altar three times and stop at the royal gates. There, the husband again kisses the image of the Savior, and the bride kisses the image of the Most Holy Theotokos with her lips.

Then the bride and groom are given icons that they will have to hang over the bed. After the longevity of the newlyweds has sounded, relatives and guests can congratulate them. Now they became spouses not only before the law, but also before God.

How is the wedding in the Catholic Church

Orthodox and Catholic churches are very similar to each other. But still, if you decide to seal the marriage union in accordance with Catholic laws, then you need to know how they differ. Preparation for the ceremony lasts at least three months and the ritual itself should be carried out only after civil registration. Young people should come to a meeting with a priest who will tell them about understanding the family union and natural planning according to Catholic canons. They are quite strict, for example, one of the biggest sins here is the use of any contraceptives. Also, the Catholic Church does not recognize divorces, even if one of the spouses was previously married in an Orthodox church, he will not be allowed to formalize family relations according to the Catholic rite.

The priest begins the process of wedding in a Catholic church with a liturgy and a sermon, thereby emphasizing the importance of this event for a young couple. Then he asks the spouses three obligatory questions:

Is the desire to come here and enter into a family union voluntary?
Are young people ready to respect and love each other until the end of their days?
Are they ready to receive children from the Almighty with love and raise them according to church canons?

If the newlyweds answered yes to all questions, then the priest utters the words of a prayer in which he asks for the blessing of the new family with the Holy Spirit. Then comes the turn of the young, they pronounce an oath of eternal love and fidelity to a friend. A wedding in the Catholic Church can take place without wedding rings, but at the request of the couple, the clergyman will consecrate them.

Most people only know in general terms what a Catholic wedding is. How it happens in general, everyone knows. But not everyone knows the details. Hollywood, with its variety of films, provided a charming and unforgettable wedding in beautiful colors and episodes. But in life, this spectacle is even more fascinating and touching.

Dear my readers!

The site provides only introductory information for creating an original and beautiful wedding celebration. I don't sell anything ;)

Where to buy? You can find and purchase the accessories for the celebration described in the articles in Special online stores where is delivery throughout Russia

Sacrament of marriage for those who are ready for eternal love

The Catholic wedding ceremony is full of tender, touching moments. The purpose of these moments is the ascension to heaven of the love of a man and a woman.

A wedding that is like a theatrical performance

confess to the Lord;
Communion to be clean in God's eyes.

The bride on this day is dressed in a shining snow-white clean outfit. The groom is filled with excitement from the expectations and trepidation of this day. And so, the father of the bride, hands over the hand of his beloved daughter, standing at the altar, to the loving groom. This suggests that soon the couple will become one body, one heart, and one spirit. This newly formed family will take care of each other all their lives, giving their attention and warmth only to their soul mate.

First of all, the clergyman or layman conducting the sacrament reads a prayer in front of everyone, turning the Lord's gaze to a young and happy couple, thirsting for his approval.

Then, the couple goes through the communion process.

After that, the appointed representative of the couple before God asks a very important question to all the guests present at this event. He wonders if there are any reasons for the inconsistency of the marriage of two loving hearts. If there are no reasons preventing the foundation of marriage, the sacrament continues further.

One of the most important moments of the wedding is the period when the bride and groom make vows, oaths of fidelity and devotion to each other. The words of the vow are not spontaneous statements, but a pre-prepared thoughtful speech. As a result, the ceremony is adorned with the sincerity and beauty of the bride and groom's vows. Such confessions are very tender and touching.

Now, the priest can boldly, with a clear conscience, declare the couple husband and wife.

What pleasant emotions, at this moment, can be experienced by those who five minutes ago were just a bride and groom, and now they are, by law, and before God, a worthy family that wants to carry their love and tenderness through their whole lives. How happy the parents of these people are that they raised such wonderful God-fearing children, striving to please not only them, but also the heavenly supreme Father.

Yes, being a husband and wife for lovers is now a great honor and responsibility. They are eager to behave like a family that deserves respect.

The feelings of the couple are shown by their happy eyes, the constant desire to hug each other, not parting not only on this day, but all their conscious life.

Additional facts and details of the Catholic wedding

01. Previously, before the ceremony, the gates of the church were hung with various metal objects. For example:

hours;
forks or spoons;
door locks.

02. When the bride and groom approached the church, they often could see a bench standing in front of the gate, which blocked the way and prevented the couple from entering the church. The lovers had to dare and jump over this barrier. If they successfully did this, then their family life was long and filled with happy life moments.

As you can see, many who want to be together forever and love each other have successfully achieved their goal.