Marriage

The roots of the institution of marriage lie in our nature. Male and female we have been created, and written into our nature is this pattern of complementarity and fertility. Christian teaching fills out this pattern and reveals its deepest meaning.

God in his love has created man and woman in his image, as the summit of creation, and invites them to give themselves to each other as a gift for the good of the other. A man and a woman are called into a lifelong, faithful and fruitful relationship. ‘Not only man as such, not only woman as such, but rather man and woman as a couple, are the image of God. The difference between them is not a question of contrast or subordination, but instead of communion and generation, always in the image and likeness of God’ (Pope Francis, Audience 15 April 2015)

For more information from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales please see: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/our-work/marriage-an...

For marriage preparation please see:

https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/our-work/marriage-an...

Instituted by God - Marriage was instituted by God. We read in Genesis that God created them male and female, and blessed them, saying “Increase and multiply, and fill the earth.” Gen.1;27-28.

Later, we read: But for Adam there was not found a helper like himself. Then the Lord God cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. And the Lord God built the rib which He took from Adam into a woman and brought her to Adam. And Adam said: This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh. Gen. II;20-24

Christ Himself referred to these very passages when the Pharisees asked Him if it were lawful for a man to put away his wife. The Savior reminded them that marriage had been instituted by God. Then He emphatically confirmed the indissolubility of the bond: What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. (Mt. XIX;6)

Marriage A Sacrament - Sacramental dignity, with all the special graces that adhere to any sacrament, was conferred on marriage by Christ. Indeed, St. Paul calls marriage “a great sacrament” placing it above others. When Christ wished to give a sign of the union that exists between Him and His Church, he chose the sacred union of a married couple. No higher dignity could be attached to any relationship.

Through the sacrament of matrimony, husband and wife receive graces which join them in the bonds of mutual love, aid them to share affection for one another, strengthen them to avoid illicit attachments and passions, fortify them to become worthy parents, and help them to keep their marriage honourable in all things. A marriage entered into with such proper dispositions will be blessed in many ways. https://catholicism.org/catholic-marriage.html

For wedding enquiries St Peter and All Souls and Our Lady of Lourdes please contact the parish priest parishpriest@stpeterandallsouls.org.uk