Matrimony (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A) : Revision Note
Meaning of Matrimony
A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace
Matrimony or marriage is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
It is when a man and woman freely agree to join together for life in marriage
Marriage should only take place once — it is a lifelong commitment
Jesus taught his followers about the importance of marriage by using the Genesis account of God’s creation of the first humans:
‘At the beginning of creation God “made them male and female.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ (Mark 10:6-9)
Because matrimony is a sacrament, Catholics believe that
God is present at the ceremony
The promises the couples make to one another are made in the presence of God
God blesses the couple in their union
Through their love for one another, the couple can see that God is active in their lives
There are signs, symbols and important words or actions in each sacrament. In matrimony these are:
The rings which are exchanged by the couple to symbolise that their love is endless and precious
The vows or promises which the couple make to one another before God to show that they are willingly entering into the union, that they will remain together and love one another for life
The words of the priest to confirm that the marriage has been blessed by God: ‘What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1614, using the words of Jesus in Mark 10:9)
Effects and Importance of Matrimony
Matrimony or marriage is important to Catholics because
Marriage is a sacrament:
A public sign that two consenting individuals are making a commitment to each other before God and that God blesses their union
A public sign that God’s grace is present in the couple’s lives and in the world: the loving union of a couple should serve as an example of family values and God’s values
Marriage is a permanent or lifelong commitment to one another - the couple’s love should strengthen over time
It is an exclusive union, where the couple promise to be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives
It is intended to be life-giving: this loving relationship is the place in which to welcome children and to bring them up in the faith
The Church believes that marriage is so important that a successful marriage sets an example to all of society, as the Vatican document outlining important Church teaching, Gaudium et Spes, states:
‘The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life’ (Gaudium et Spes, 48)
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which the sacrament of matrimony affects the lives of Catholics
(4 marks)
The sacrament of matrimony is a public sign that God’s grace is present in the couple’s lives and in the world. This means that the couple should imitate God’s love for the world in their love for one another, setting an example for others to follow (2 marks)
It is also a life-long commitment to another person. The couple have promised to remain together for the rest of their lives before God and therefore they will have to do their best to honour this commitment (2 marks)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember the importance of marriage in the Catholic Church using this SPELL:
Sacrament: sign of God’s love in the world
Permanent: life-long
Exclusive: remain faithful
Life-giving: accept the gift of children as part of God’s plan for their lives
Love: love one another and set an example of love for all of society
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