Through the Catholic sacrament of Matrimony, a man and woman commit themselves to a lifelong partnership, established for the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of their children.

The Old Testament states that man was made in the image and likeness of God, and that man and woman were made for each other; through marriage, they become one. Furthermore, the Church teaches that since God created man out of love, and calls him to love, it is fitting that the union of man and woman should be a sacrament. The spouses' mutual love mirrors love of God; their children, who are their own creations, are also part of God's creation.

The Church understands that the evil in the world makes marriage difficult. Jealousy, power struggles, and conflicts can lead to bitterness and separation. Hard work and the pain of childbirth are added burdens. However, Jesus taught that marriage is indissoluble: “Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Matthew 19:6). Through the sacrament of Matrimony, the Church teaches that Jesus gives the strength and grace to live the real meaning of marriage. As Paul wrote in exhortation, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her” (Ephesians 5:25–26).

The Marriage Ceremony

The marriage ceremony of two Catholics normally takes place at Mass, in memory of the paschal mystery and the way Christ bound himself permanently to the Church, his beloved bride. Numerous prayers ask God's grace and blessing on the couple, and the Holy Spirit infuses the couple with unending love and strength for fidelity.

The exchange of consent between the spouses is an indispensable element of the marriage ceremony. Marriage without consent, performed with coercion or threats, is invalid. The presence of the priest or bishop and of other witnesses testifies to the fact that marriage is part of the Church. As a sacrament, Matrimony is part of the Church's liturgy, and therefore it needs to be celebrated publicly.

Catholic marriage is a vocation (a calling), and it requires the married couple to accept certain obligations toward each other, the children, and the community. Married couples receive grace to perfect their love and to strengthen their unity, to help each other attain holiness, and to welcome and educate their children. The Church teaches that the marriage bond is established by God himself and is sealed with a special sacrament, one that can never be dissolved. It requires total fidelity from the spouses and the openness to bearing children and educating them in the faith.

Interfaith Marriage

If a Catholic person wishes to marry outside the faith, he or she is required to obtain permission of an ecclesiastical authority for the marriage to be valid in the eyes of the Church. The dispensation is based on the couple's acknowledgment of two things: the goals and behaviors of marriage, and the Catholic person's requirement of preserving his or her own faith and ensuring that the children are baptized and raised in the Church.

Some dioceses have programs that help interfaith couples fulfill their obligations, encourage what they hold in common, and increase respect for their differences. The Church believes that Catholic partner's love, practice of family virtues, and prayer can help the other partner to convert.