Sacraments

Marriage is a beautiful vocation and a sacred covenant of love. In the Catholic Church, a couple stand before God and their community to promise lifelong love and fidelity. From the beginning, marriage is part of God’s loving plan — a partnership of the whole of life, centred on mutual support and open to the gift of children.

For baptised Christians, marriage is a sacrament. Through the exchange of vows, the couple themselves confer the sacrament on one another, and Christ promises them the grace they need to live their commitment each day — in joy and in challenge.

Catholic marriage is:

• Lifelong – a faithful and enduring covenant
• Exclusive – a complete gift of self to one another
• Life-giving – generously open to the blessing of children
• Grace-filled – strengthened by God to grow in love and holiness

The home that flows from this sacrament is often called the “domestic church,” a place where love is learned, faith is shared, and Christ is made present in everyday life.