We believe that Marriage is a sacrament, with the love of the husband and wife mirroring the love that God has for us, his people. We pray that God will journey with you as you make this important life-long commitment.
Catholics believe that marriage comes as a gift from the hand of God. The Catholic vision of marriage is rooted in Sacred Scripture and is expressed in the teachings and practices of the Church. It has these main elements:
- Marriage unites a couple in faithful and mutual love
- Marriage opens a couple to giving life
- Marriage is a way to respond to God’s call to holiness
- Marriage calls the couple to be a sign of Christ’s love in the world
A CHURCH WEDDING NEED NOT BE EXPENSIVE!
Each year in the region of 750 weddings are celebrated in churches throughout the diocese of Kerry. How has the economic crisis and the resultant austerity effected this? Are people incurring large debt to finance their wedding? Are there people putting off getting married indefinitely because they simply cannot afford it? Putting your life on hold like that, can it cause a serious strain?
People are conscious of large weddings where it seems to be a case of ‘no expense spared’. Other weddings do take place: a wedding party of twelve or less; maybe a guest list of 80 with a church wedding at 6pm and a buffet reception following at a local club facility; or the wedding reception can resemble the old style Station Mass in the home. We have some lovely small churches that are ideal. Many couples have the self-confidence to have a low-cost, wonderful wedding. The heart of a wedding day is a joyful, loving couple exchanging vows in church in the presence of family and friends. All else is optional. A simple small wedding can be experienced as intimate, moving and very special by all gathered.
It is a healthy sign in a community that such weddings take place. Encourage people to have a positive attitude towards them. Austerity and recession do not have a veto on people getting on with living their lives. As a couple do you feel the time is right to marry? If so, let nothing stop you. Talk to family and friends; make contact with your parish.
CLICK HERE What is our understanding of Sacramental Marriage? Bishop Ray Browne