!
***** READ ALL NOTES AND REREAD THE CHAPTER.  USE THE RED HIGHLIGHTED  SECTIONS TO FOCUS ON!******
ALL NOTEBOOK QUESTIONS SHOULD ALSO BE STUDIED.

Pre-Cana    
 Seminary

Holy Orders and Matrimony (Sacraments at the Service of Communion)

Matrimony is a Sacrament at the Service of Communion.

In Matrimony, couples receive grace for lifelong love and service.

Through the sacrament of Matrimony- a baptized man and woman enter a lifelong commitment and promise to live as lifelong, faithful partners, accept children as a gift from God. This is their part for continuing the human family.

The priest or deacon is the official witness on behalf of the church.

The marriage covenant of husband and wife is modeled on Christ’s love for the Church.

Sometimes the Church is called the Bride of Christ.

The love the married couple share for God is seen in the fruits of their life together: sacrifice, love, charity.  Charity or love is a gift from God that enables us to love our neighbor.

Throughout Jesus’ public ministry he held up the importance of marriage.  He performed the first miracle at a wedding feast. Matrimony should never be broken and should be forever established as a sacrament.

Bride and groom are ministers / bestow sacrament on each other.

Married couples can turn to their families and parish community for support during challenging times.  Prayer and celebrating the Eucharist together can strengthen and protect the marriage.

Jesus taught the bond of marriage is unbreakable (indissolubility)

Marriage bond lasts until the death of either husband or wife.

Today 2 authorities approve the union of marriage - the Church and the state.

The civil authority (state) may grant a couple a civil divorce.  Only the state can dissolve / Church never breaks the Sacrament.

For serious reasons, the Church can declare a marriage null or void.  (Declaration of Nullity or Annulment- means the marriage never took place)

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is celebrated during a Mass.

Through the Sacrament of Holy orders men who are called by the Church are ordained (follows the tradition of Jesus chose men to be Apostles):

Ordained priests and bishops form the ministerial priesthood.

Men who are ordained deacons become part of the ministry of service to the church.

Vocation - is a call to a way of life.

Common vocation - is our call from God to holiness and evangelization.

We can live out our common vocation:
1) laity - Christians/members of the church who share in spreading Good News

2) Consecrated life- live religious life -vow of poverty, chastity, celibacy (remain single/devote life to God), obedience.

3)Ordained Ministry - Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders- become priests, bishops, deacons.

Bishops-preached the Good News, cared for others, continued the work (leadership and service) of the Apostles.  Successors of Apostles.

Priests/presbyters-local leaders who worked with the bishop.

 Priests who become bishops are ordained into the episcopate.

Priests belong to the degree of orders called presbyterate. 

Deacons-assisted in the worship and service of the community (A deacon is ordained into the orders called the diaconate.)

Ordination- sacramental act where priests, bishops, deacons receive one or more of the three degrees of Holy Orders.