Further, to reveal the plan of your love, you made the union of husband and wife an image of the covenant between you and your people.  In the fulfillment of this sacrament, the marriage of a Christian man and woman is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church.

(Marriage Rite prayer)

Marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament; that is, the couple's relationship expresses in a unique way the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people.

Like the other Sacraments of the Church, marriage is a sign which reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated.  All seven of our sacraments were instituted by Christ and were entrusted to the Church to be celebrated in faith within and for the community of believers.  The rituals and prayers by which the sacrament is celebrated serve to express visibly what God is doing invisibly.

In a sacramental marriage, God's love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and flows through them to their family and the community.  By their permanent, faithful, and exclusive giving of self to the other, open to the generation of new life, the couple reveals something about God's unconditional love.

The Sacrament of Marriage involves their entire life as they journey together through the ups and downs of marriage and become more able to give and receive from each other.  Their life becomes sacramental to the extent that the couple cooperates with God's action in their life and see themselves as living in Christ, and Christ living and acting in their relationship, attitudes, and actions.

Please note that Marriages are not permitted at IHM during the Season of Lent.

Q.  Why get married in the Church and at Mass?
St. Paul reminds us that married love speaks to Christ's love for his bride: the Church.  The most powerful image of marriage in the New Testament is Christ crucified.  Christ the Bridegroom is pouring out his life for his bride, the Church.  At Mass--the wedding banquet of the Lamb wherein the sacrifice of Jesus is re-presented-- Jesus gives his Body and Blood for all of us.    It is entirely appropriate that marital love should be contextualized at that Liturgy.  When you are convinced that God has brought you together precisely so that your mutual love would be a sacramental sign to the world of God's indissoluble love for his Church--then you get married in the Church. (Bishop Robert Barron)

Q.  How do I plan my wedding at IHM?
Contact the Pastor.  Our Marriage Team will help you prepare for your marriage—a lifelong proposition!  Along the way, we will also help you prepare for your wedding day.  A broad overview of the process:

• Six months before your wedding date, you must meet with the Pastor.
• Meet at least two times with the FOCCUS Facilitator
• Meet with the Priest or Deacon who will preside at your wedding, normally you will meet 3-5 times
• Meet with the IHM Music Minister
• Meet with the IHM Wedding Coordinator
• Participate in the Diocese of Covington’s Marriage Preparation Program
• Participate in the Natural Family Planning Program
• Obtain all required documents
• Participate in the Wedding Liturgy rehearsal
• Wedding Liturgy!

Q.  I'm Catholic, but my marriage was not witnessed by the Catholic Priest or Deacon.  Now what?
Contact us.  We want to help bring you back into full communion with the Church.  You will meet with one of the clergy at the parish, and we will together outline the steps we need to take to "validate" your marriage, and welcome you back to the Sacraments of the Church.

 

the bond of life and love, and the font of the family.

The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children,
fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service,
and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church.

The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother.
May your Son, through the intercession of Mary, 
pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit 
as we join with all people of good will 
to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage.

May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society 
to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife, 
and guide our leaders to sustain and protect 
the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children.

Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary, 
that your Word may transform our service 
so as to safeguard the incomparable splendor of marriage.
We ask all these things through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.