Matrimony
Roman Catholic Christians believe that
marriage was instituted by God in the Hebrew
Scriptures.
Gen 1:27-28
In the simplicity of his words, the author of Genesis described
the institution of human society.
Gen 2:18-24
In the New Testament, Jesus reestablished the indissolubility and
unity of marriage.
Mt 19:3-9
Jesus extolled the sanctity of marriage by his presence at the
wedding feast at Cana and the occasion of his first public
miracle.
Jn 2:1-11
Finally, it is Paul who writes of marriage as a true sacrament the
sign of the conjugal union of Christ and his Bride, the
Church.
Eph 5:21-32
The Fathers of the Church, from the evangelist John and Paul
attest to the reinstitution and sanctification of matrimony by
Christ and its elevation to a mystical signification.
Ignatius (Antioch, d. 110), Letter to Polycarp, MG 5, 724
Tertullian (Rome, 160 - 220), To His Wife, Bk. 2:7, ML 1,
1299
The teaching Magisterium of the Church in Ecumenical Councils
also affirms the sacramental state of matrimony.
Lateran Council II (1139)
The Council of Lyons II (1274)
The Council of Florence (1438 - 1445)
The Council of Trent (1545 - 1563), Session 24
Annulment: There Never Was A
Marriage
The Roman Catholic Church professes the absolute indissolubility of
marriage based on the Bible. The Church has also taken on herself
to decide if and when marriage occurs. This process is called
annulment.
There are, as human experience teaches, many obstacles to a valid
marriage. For instance, if a young woman were forced into marriage
under fear of death, she would be incapable of entering into a
valid marriage. Or, a person may attempt marriage while already
married to a third party. These reasons and others, if proven to
have existed, invalidate marriage.
The Church in her wisdom, her history and the presence of the Holy
Spirit takes it upon herself to judge the validity of marriages
presented to her for judgment. If the presence of some
obstacle--called an impediment--is judged to have been there at the
time of a wedding ceremony, the Church issues an annulment. She
judges that while there may have been a wedding ceremony there was
no marriage in the eyes of God.
The parties are then free to contract a valid marriage.
