Search
Marriage
-
-
What is the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony?Conjugal union has its origin in God, who, in creating man, made a person who needs to be open to others, to communicate, and to have company. “It is not good for the man to be alone, let us make him a companion like him” (Gen 2:18). From the beginning of creation, when God creates the first couple, the union between them becomes a natural institution, with a permanent bond and total unity (Mt 19,6). So that it cannot be changed in its aims and its characteristics, since to do so would go against the very nature of man. Marriage is not, therefore, an effect of chance or a consequence of unconscious natural instincts.
Marriage for the baptized is a sacrament united to the love of Christ and his Church; it is governed by the model of the love that Jesus Christ has for his Church (cf. Eph 5:25-32). There is only true marriage between the baptized when the sacrament is contracted.
Civil marriage is contracted before a civil authority. This marriage is not valid for Catholics; the only valid marriage between baptized is the sacramental contracted before a Priest or Deacon of the Church.
-
-
-
To celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, the following are required:To arrange the celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the couple should make an appointment with a priest or deacon to begin the marriage process.
Documents and Process:
- Updated Certificate of Baptism from both bride and groom. (This is acquired from the church where you were baptized)
- Copy of Certificate of Confirmation.
- Marriage License from the country of domicile, e.g., Cook, Lake, Kane, etc.
a. If you are already married civilly, a copy of the Civil Marriage Certificate issued upon your marriage is required.
b. If any of the parties to be married, bride or groom, have been previously divorced and have received the Declaration of Nullity from the Catholic Church, this declaration is to be presented. - Two witnesses for each, the bride and groom, to testify as to the ability and availability of the couple to receive the Sacrament of Marriage.
- Participate and complete the Pre-Matrimonial Class required by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
- The Shrine requires an offering of $500.00 for the celebration to be held at Marian Chapel and $600.00 for the St. Joseph Chapel. This must be paid at the time of booking the wedding date.
-
-
Amulments
-
What is the Ecclesiastical Understanding of an AnnulmentA declaration of nullity of marriage (also commonly called "annulment" or "declaration of invalidity") is the affirmation by the Catholic Church that, at the time a particular man and woman consented to marriage, something essential was lacking, which prevented that union from being a valid one.
The three essential elements for the validity of consent are: the capacity of the parties to validly consent and to fulfill the essential obligations of marriage, the intention to enter into marriage according to the teachings of the Church, and knowledge of both what marriage itself is and of the person of the other party.
It should be noted that most marriages are validly contracted; however, when there is a serious defect regarding any of the aspects mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the marriage in question is considered invalid. This is not about judging anyone, since often the spouses have entered into the marriage with the best of intentions. Nor is it about finding someone to blame for the failure of the marriage; rather, the declaration of nullity of a marriage is a statement about the marital union itself.
If you wish to begin the application process for the Church to investigate whether a previous marriage was invalid, please contact one of our priests to schedule an appointment. We encourage you not to hesitate to share the details of this painful experience, as we are here to support your healing.
For more informacion regarding Annulments, please visit: https://www.archchicago.org/offices-and-ministries/metropolitan-tribunal
-
-
Boda de cana
-
What is the Cana Wedding Program?The Cana Wedding Ministry is a ministry that supports and assists couples who are currently living together or are married civilly but have not yet received the Sacrament of Marriage in their lives.
We support couples by welcoming them without judgment of their marital status. The purpose of this ministry is not to judge or pressure couples into marriage. Our goal is to invite them into a process of discovery and dialogue as adults regarding their faith and their relationship as a couple.
We assist couples through the celebration of a Holy Mass, where all couples can celebrate and receive the Sacrament of Marriage as a group. This eliminates any concerns about the cost of a traditional wedding. Participation in this wedding is free. The celebration is conducted with dignity, honoring the Sacrament they will receive and the commitment they will make in the Name of the Lord.
The Church understands that Marriage is a couple’s response to Christ’s call to witness His infinite love for the Church, the Bride of Christ. This commitment is for life. The decision must be made freely and consciously by healthy, mature Christians.
-
-
-
What is the Sacrament of Marriage?Conjugal union originates from God, who, when creating man, made him a person who needs to open himself to others, communicate, and have companionship. “It is not good for man to be alone; let us make him a suitable partner for him.” (Gen. 2:18). From the beginning of creation, when God creates the first couple, the union between them becomes a natural institution with a permanent bond and total unity (Mt. 19:6). Therefore, it cannot be altered in its purpose or characteristics, because doing so would go against human nature. Marriage is not the result of chance or unconscious natural instincts.
For baptized Christians, marriage is a sacrament united to the love of Christ for His Church; it is guided by the model of love that Jesus Christ has for His Church (cf. Eph. 5:25-32). True marriage between baptized individuals exists only when the sacrament is conferred.
Civil marriage is contracted before civil authorities. This marriage is not valid for Catholics; the only valid marriage for baptized persons is the sacramental marriage celebrated before a priest or deacon of the Church.
-
-
-
What is required to get married?It is important to schedule an appointment with the priest or deacon to discuss your situation. Every couple has their own story about how they came together and the circumstances that led them to decide not to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage.
If the couple wishes to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of the process, the following must be obtained:- New Baptismal Certificates for both the husband and wife.
- Confirmation Certificates for both.
- If civilly married – a copy of your Civil Marriage Certificate.
- If not civilly married – a Marriage License from Cook County.
- If there was a previous marriage that was declared null by the Church – a copy of the Ecclesiastical Declaration of Nullity.
- Two witnesses who can attest that the couple is capable and free to receive the Sacrament of Marriage.
- Participation in and completion of the formation and preparation program for the Sacrament of Marriage.
- The total cost of the program is $500.00, which covers the process.
-
