St. Praxedes, Virgin

In the Catholic understanding of marriage, a marriage covenant is formed when a baptized man and woman, free to marry, freely express their consent to one another. They mutually give themselves to each other in words such as, “I take you to be my wife” and “I take you to be my husband.” This consent must be a true act of each person’s will, free from coercion or grave external fear; without consent, there is no marriage. The Church receives the spouses’ consent through the priest or deacon and gives its blessing, while the presence of the minister and witnesses shows that marriage is an ecclesial reality. The Church normally asks the faithful to celebrate marriage publicly according to its form, helping provide certainty about the marriage and protecting the “I do” that the spouses have given. For families, these teachings encourage thoughtful preparation for marriage, so that consent may be free and responsible and the marriage covenant may have solid and lasting human and Christian foundations.

In marriages between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic, and in marriages involving disparity of cult between a Catholic and a non-baptized person, couples need careful attention and pastoral guidance. Differences in confession need not prevent a strong marriage when spouses share what they have received from their communities and learn from one another’s fidelity to Christ. Still, these differences can bring real tensions, especially concerning faith, the meaning of marriage, and the education of children, and can tempt a family toward religious indifference. In the Latin Church, a mixed marriage requires ecclesiastical permission, while a marriage involving disparity of cult requires a dispensation for validity; these presume that both spouses understand marriage’s essential ends and properties, as well as the Catholic party’s obligations regarding the children’s baptism and education in the Catholic Church. Through pastoral care, couples can be helped to live their situation in faith, honor what they share, and respect what separates them. In a marriage involving an unbelieving spouse, sincere love, patient family virtues, and perseverance in prayer can prepare that spouse to receive the grace of conversion freely.