-
After the love that unites us to God, conjugal love is 'the greatest form of friendship.' It is a union possessing all the traits of a good friendship: concern for the good of the other, reciprocity, intimacy, warmth, stability and the resemblance born of a shared life.Pope Francis, The Joy of Love
A bride and groom marrying in the Catholic Church know that their wedding is about more than the perfect dress or flowers. For baptized Christians, marriage is a sacrament; for all couples getting married Catholic, the wedding is a profound expression of God’s love and a witness to the couple’s faith. These pages offer resources for Catholic weddings at St. John Chrysostom Parish, beginning an explanation and short video about the three basic forms of the Rite of Marriage.
Many other excellent resources for Catholic weddings are available at For Your Marriage, from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.The Rite of Marriage: 3 Forms
The Catholic Church provides three forms of celebrating the Rite of Marriage. When two Catholics are marrying, the celebration will normally take place within a Mass. The second form, which does not include a Mass, is used when a Catholic marries another baptized Christian. A third form, also outside Mass, is usually celebrated when a Catholic marries someone who is not baptized. The second and third forms are structured around the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word.
The couple chooses one of these options based on their particular circumstances in conversation with the priest or deacon who will witness the marriage vows. When a deacon leads the liturgy, the wedding is celebrated outside of Mass, even when two Catholics marry.
The video below walks you through these options.
You may also be interested in:
Ten Tips for Keeping Your Catholic Wedding Focused on Faith
Getting Married Catholic
Planning a Catholic Wedding
The Nuptial Blessing
The Questions Before the Consent
Convalidation