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Some people
think that Matrimony is an event that happens on the couple’s wedding day. They
are wrong. The Sacrament of Matrimony actually has to do with the sharing of
their entire lives together. The ritual that occurs on the wedding day affirms
the Sacrament of Matrimony that encompasses a lifetime. Marriage is meant to be
referred to as a communion of the whole life (Stoutzenberger 271). The primary
symbols of Matrimony are the husband and wife. All the acts of love between the
husband and wife during their lives are considered “rituals”. When they support
each other in their lives or even share a story over a meal are examples of
rituals of love (Stoutzenberger 271).
- During the actual ritual of marriage there are these elements: the liturgy of the word, the consent, the blessing and exchange of rings, the nuptial blessing, and the final blessing (Stoutzenberger 273). - The liturgy of the word contains the proclaiming of the word of God in the Scriptures. Different cultures may have different readings and the bride and groom can always choose what reading they want during the liturgy of the word in their marriage. This is one aspect of personalization that a marriage ceremony can offer (Stoutzenberger 276). One example of cultures having different traditions is that in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a crowning of the bride and groom are a central ritual in the ceremony of marriage (Stoutzenberger 276). - The final blessing is a final blessing and prayer spoken by the minister or priest. The nuptial blessing is a prayer for God’s grace, peace, love, and strength to be with the couple through their entire lives together and also the gift of children (Both blessings can be found in the drop menu of "Rituals of Matrimony"). - The consent, or the exchange of promises, gives the couple to publically say yes to the other person. The couple has obviously said that they love each other before but this ritual lets them do it publically and this gives the vows a chance to gain meaning because they are said in a formal, public setting with the church as witness (Stoutzenberger 273). Cultures may have different wordings of the ceremonies but without a free consent, the marriage pretty much does not exist (Stoutzenberger 273). - The words that are said with the blessing and exchange of rings refer to the rings as “signs of love and fidelity” (Stoutzenberger 273). Rings are an ancient symbol of wholeness and unity. The rings symbolize that the other person is always thinking about them and cares about them. The couple must always try not to lose their ring, for the whole point of the ring is to remind the other person that you are thinking about them (Stoutzenberger 273). |