Matrimony

Matrimony — Christian marriage — is a covenant between a man and a woman ordered to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. When validly contracted between two baptized persons, it is a sacrament (CCC 1601).

The Nature of Marriage

Marriage is not merely a social contract but a covenant — a permanent, faithful, and fruitful union — that reflects the covenant between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:25–32). Its essential properties are unity (one man and one woman) and indissolubility (permanent until death) (CCC 1644, 1647).

The Ministers of the Sacrament

In the Latin Church, the spouses confer the sacrament on each other through their free and public consent. The priest or deacon witnesses the consent and gives the Church's blessing (CCC 1623).

Indissolubility

"What God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Mark 10:9). A valid, consummated sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved. A declaration of nullity is not a divorce but a judgment that a valid marriage never came to exist (CCC 1648–1651).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an annulment? A declaration of nullity is the Church's judgment that despite the external appearance of a marriage, the conditions necessary for a valid sacramental marriage were not present — such as lack of proper consent or inability to fulfill marital obligations (CCC 1629).