Like A Rose
Dan Lai
26
may_fifteen@mailcity.com
Engaged to the sweetest angel in the world
Loves to sing, watch movies and DVDs, swim, play balls, read self-improvement books and travel with my dear
The Sacrament of Matrimony
It's been a few months since I last attended RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). It is a 1 year journey for those who are called by God to go into baptism to be a Roman Catholic. I went through it last year and was baptised during Easter (April 2007). This year, I wanted to continue learning about the Catholic faith and at the same time, accompany the new batch in their jouney. However, I couldn't find the time till this evening.
During this session, we were discussing the Sacrament of Matrimony. In the Catholic doctrine, there are 7 sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Confirmation, Eucharist (most important), Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders. Basically, in the eyes of the church, divorce is not mentioned and recognised - Genesis: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one" - Hence, what God unites, cannot be separated. We view marriage as holy and when a couple divorce in legal sense, they are not considered as divorcees in the eyes of the church. However, their marriage then becomes invalid and is thus not sacramental (absence of the holiness of God).
3 criteria to be fulfilled to have a valid marriage:
1) Full consent and not compulsive. Marriage out of free will.
2) Couples must understand the properties of marriage - unity and indissolvibility.
3) Couples must be open to procreation.
Therefore, when you are divorced, your marriage though still exists becomes invalid. Yet, you can still celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion. The problem comes when you are remarrying. Since you are still considered married in the Catholic doctrine though divorced legally, remarrying constitutes to committing adultery - Mark 10:11-12. Moreover, a Catholic cannot have a church wedding with a divorcee even if the latter is a non-Catholic. However, a widower/widow can get married again (till death do us part). Yet, if with valid reasons for divorce of previous marriage, the couple can appeal to the Catholic Tribunal Council. Then, the council will examine case by case and also seeks approval from Rome. In many cases, the Vatican did approve remarrying.
About homosexuals, the Catholic Church's stand is very simple. We must not despise or discriminate them. Instead, we must continue our friendship and help them to understand that they are not unworthy of God's love. However, gay marriages are not allowed still since they already oppose the validity of marriage in terms of procreation.
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