Marriage

The covenant of marriage is a visible sign of God’s love for the Church. When a man and a woman are married in the Church, they receive the grace needed for a lifelong bond of unity. We’re grateful to you for seeking out this grace and look forward to walking on this journey with you as you prepare.

The Vocation of Marriage

Throughout your life, whether you realize it or not, you have been preparing for this moment.  Our vocation is that which God calls us to, which is our path of holiness, the way in which He wants us to follow Him, to reach one day the gates of Paradise.  If marriage is your vocation, then God has been preparing you for it—by witnessing the example of your parents or others in their own marriage, by learning what it means to love, to sacrifice, through the deepening of faith in Christ, our Bridegroom, in so many ways.

Marriage is not something that we create or define.  It was instituted during Creation and given a new birth by Christ as He elevated it to a Sacrament, a visible sign of that invisible reality of God’s grace at work in the world.  The man and woman, husband and wife, are a visible sign to the world of God’s Triune love and love for His people.  They are a reminder of the love of the Bridegroom for His Bride, Christ for the Church. 

As such it has certain characteristics which can never be denied or set aside, such as permanence, fidelity and an openness to children.  Also, this intimate union and equal partnership must always be entered into freely.

It was for this reason that God called Adam and Eve together:  that they might share in His love, a love which overflows and gives life—to the individuals themselves and to the world.   As such, marriage is a part of the natural order of Creation.  Through it man and woman become coworkers with God in the Order of Creation as it continues on.

Natural Marriage

When one of the spouses is not baptized, a valid, natural and good Catholic marriage is formed, which unites the two and orients them toward the good of each other and of any children with which they are blessed.  Whenever a Roman Catholic gets married, whether to another Catholic, another Christian, or an individual of another faith or no faith, they are required to get married in a Church, with a bishop, priest or deacon, and at least two witnesses, or receive permission from the Archbishop to do otherwise. 

The Church does not recognize the marriage of a Catholic who marries outside of the Church contrary to these requirements without permission from the Archbishop, because she can not be sure that the consent given is to that enduring gift of self which we understand marriage to be, with the freedom that is also necessary (freedom of consent, but also from impediments to marriage). 

This applies not only when it is a Sacramental Marriage, which must of course be administered by a cleric, but also when it is a natural marriage.  In such cases, the Catholic must agree to raise their children in the practice of the faith, and the non-Catholic must agree this is to happen.

Sacramental Marriage

In addition to being a natural institution, the Catholic Church teaches that the valid marriage between two baptized Christians is also a sacrament—a saving reality and a symbol of Christ’s love for His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33) — by which the two sanctify one another.  In every marriage the spouses make a contract with each other.  In a sacramental marriage the couple also enters into a covenant in which their love is sealed and strengthened by God’s love, and their marriage becomes for them their path to heaven, their vocation.

Marriage Preparation

We are excited to help you begin this process. In accordance with the norms of the Archdiocese of Seattle, preparation must begin six months before the date of your wedding, although we recommend giving yourself nine months.

At least one on the intended spouses must be a practicing Roman Catholic and registered within our parish family (St. Joseph, Mary Queen of Peace, or Our Lady of Sorrows). If the couple are living their faith at another parish, then an immediate family member must belong to the parish family. To begin your preparation process, please fill out the below form.

Scheduling your Wedding

All scheduling in our parish family (St. Joseph, Mary Queen of Peace, and Our Lady of Sorrows) is done through Mary Williams. You cannot schedule your wedding until after you begin your marriage preparation.

We strongly recommend that you do not book any venues until your wedding date has been approved. We cannot guarantee any date that has not been officially confirmed.

Special Note: Convalidation

As stated above, a Catholic must get married in the Church or have permission to do otherwise.  If someone enters into a civil marriage without that permission, it is not a valid marriage.  For those who wish to enter into a valid marriage and be able to receive the Sacraments again, please contact Mary Williams. 

The preparation program is adapted depending upon how long you have been civilly married.  When it is finished, the couple may get married in the church in the usual way, or submit a letter to the Archbishop asking that he accept the consent they initially exchanged with the understanding that it was to the full definition of marriage as created by God and handed on by the Church.

Please contact Mary Williams with any questions regarding marriage at mwilliams@sjcissaquah.org or (425) 392-5516 ex 228