A Journey Through the Catechism (Holy Matrimony; Sacramentals)
We continue with our Pastor Column series through the Baltimore Catechism, and we turn now to the twenty-second and twenty-third articles: “On Matrimony” and “On the Sacramentals.”
Q: What is the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A: The Sacrament of Matrimony is the Sacrament that unites a Christian man and a Christian woman in lawful marriage. (N.B. Special dispensation can be granted if one spouse or the other is not Christian; with that dispensation, the Sacrament still takes effect.)
Q: What are the effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A: The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are: to sanctify the love of husband and wife; to give the spouses grace to bear with each other’s weaknesses; to enable them to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.
Q: To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily, is it necessary to be in the state of grace?
A: To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily, it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and it is necessary also to comply with the laws of God and the Church.
A: To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony worthily, it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and it is necessary also to comply with the laws of God and the Church.
(N.B. The proper Matter of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the man and the woman themselves. The proper Form is the couple’s free consent to get married – “I do.” The proper Ministers are, again the couple themselves; the bishop, priest, or deacon who presides at a wedding is merely that: the presider of the wedding rite, but not the proper Minister.)
Q: What is a sacramental?
A: A sacramental is anything set apart or blessed by the Church to inspire good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart and soul to remit venial sin.
Q: What is the chief sacramental used in the Church?
A: The chief sacramental used in the Church is the Sign of the Cross.
Q: How do we make the Sign of the Cross?
A: We make the Sign of the Cross by putting the right hand to the forehead, then to the chest, then to the left and then the right shoulders, saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Q: Why do we make the Sign of the Cross?
A: We make the Sign of the Cross to show that we are Christians and to profess our belief in the chief mysteries of our faith.
Q: What other sacramental is in very frequent use?
A: Another sacramental in very frequent use is holy water.
Q: What is holy water?
A: Holy water is water that is blessed by a bishop, priest, or deacon with solemn prayer to beg God’s blessing on those who use it, and protection from the powers of the evil one.
Q: Are there other sacramentals besides the Sign of the Cross and holy water?
A: Besides the Sign of the Cross and holy water, there are many other sacramentals, such as blessed candles, blessed ashes, palms, crucifixes, images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, images of other saints, rosaries, and scapulars, among many others.
A: Besides the Sign of the Cross and holy water, there are many other sacramentals, such as blessed candles, blessed ashes, palms, crucifixes, images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, images of other saints, rosaries, and scapulars, among many others.
~ Fr. Lewis