Sacraments of 

Service

Refer to our Sunday Experience pages to find different prayers to pray as a family sometime during the week as well as setting up a prayer space and other activities as a family.

For the Learn do the following:

1. Watch Video at the top of the page. (if you want more resources, or are interested in learning more about the topic click on the Extra tab).
2. Click on the appropriate grade for your child.
3. Read the "relates to..." section at the beginning.  This is helpful to understand what to convey to your child is important about this lesson.  It will        help make the lesson both an intellectual and a lived lesson.
4. Read through and familiarize yourself with the sample script. 
5. Teach your child the lesson, either using your own words or the sample script.
6. Either discuss the questions with your child (best option), or have your child write out answers to the questions.
7. Have your child do the activities and/or do the activities with them.  
8. If working with a parish return the appropriate material in the way they have requested.

All Content for "The Way", Learn, is original content and copyright of the Diocese of Kalamazoo and may not be copied, reproduced, or used without prior written consent of the Diocese of Kalamazoo.   © 2020 Diocese of Kalamazoo

Relates to Jesus: Jesus gives us the priests as a gift to continue His mission of saving people here on earth. He allows them during Mass to be Him, so that they can bring us to His saving act on the Cross. Priests can then give us Jesus in our prayer and worship.

Relates to my Faith: If we want to get close to Jesus, and desire to receive Him in the Eucharist and receive His divine life in the sacraments we need to have priests that can be in the person of Christ here on earth. It is the hands and person of Jesus who actually effects the sacrament through the hands of the priest, even if the priest is sinful. We can be assured that Jesus desires to come to us.

Sample Script:
Have you ever watched the priest closely during Mass? He plays a special role at Mass, and many things show this – his special clothes, how he sits in front, and the way he leads everyone in prayer. The priest has received a special sacrament that gives him a role at Mass different from everyone else, called the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Bishops, priests, and deacons all receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, but in different degrees.

Because he has received this Sacrament, the priest acts “in persona Christi” which is the Latin language for “in the person of Christ.” This means that he truly represents Jesus, and acts in the place and power of Jesus! This is how the priest says “This is my body” at Mass. The priest is in the person of Christ offering Himself as a Sacrifice.

This is something only priests and bishops can do. Deacons play a special role as assistants at Mass, helping the priest during Mass.

Our role during Mass is to worship God. It is important that we not only worship God by kneeling, standing and sitting like everyone else, but also that we listen to what the priest says and pay attention when we hear or say prayers.

Questions:

What sacrament do bishops, priests, and deacons receive? 
What is the other sacrament of service?
How does the priest “act” during Mass?
Can anyone do this?
What is your role during Mass, and how can you carry out your role well? 
 

Activities:

Draw the priest, deacon, and your family at Mass. What is each person doing? 

Bring a notebook when you go to Mass and write down 1 thing you hear that you can think about.

Relates to Jesus: Jesus gives us the Sacraments to make present His love for His people. The priesthood and matrimony are intentional ways that Christ's love is given so that and His grace can be found to build others up.

Relates to my Faith: The grace given through the Sacraments of Service supplies the necessary tools to adequately live out these states in life.

Sample Script:
Have you ever watched the priest closely during Mass? He plays a special role at Mass, and many things show this – his special clothes, how he sits in front, and the way he leads everyone else. The priest has received a special sacrament that gives him a role at Mass different from everyone else, called the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Bishops, priests, and deacons all receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, but in different degrees.

Because he has received this Sacrament, the priest acts “in persona Christi” which is Latin language for “in the person of Christ.” This means that he truly represents Jesus, and acts in the place and power of Jesus! This is how the priest says “This is my body” at Mass. The priest is in the person of Christ offering Himself as a Sacrifice.

This is something only a priest or bishop can do but all of us are still called to imitate Christ, which means to act like him by taking care of those around us. A husband and wife who are married have a special way of imitating Christ. A husband loves his wife like Jesus loves us, his Church – he loves us so much that he died for us! In turn, a wife loves her husband by following his lead like we do with Jesus! And together they care for children – a Dad, Mom, and baby share a love between them like the Trinity!   

Right now, you and I can pray and for what our future role will be, and it’s important to be a son/daughter, brother/sister and friend, and to take our role worshipping God during Mass!

Questions:
What sacrament do bishops and priests receive that allows them to act “in persona Christi”?
What does this mean? 
Do you act “in persona Christi”?
How are you called to act, and how do married people do this in a special way? 
What can you do right now? 

Activities:

Draw a priest “in persona Christi” and draw yourself imitating Christ. What is the difference?

Talk with your parents about what marriage means to them.

Relates to Jesus: Jesus calls us each uniquely to serve Him in love and truth in proclaiming the Kingdom of God with our lives.

Relates to my Faith: The Catholic Church upholds, in line with St. Paul, that we are all members of the Body of Christ, the Church. God calls us each to live our vocation to the full and so do our part to maintain the Body.

Sample Script:
Right now, you have a special role in Mass to worship God by your movements, and by paying attention and praying actively. When you leave Mass, you have a role of imitating Christ, acting like him by loving others. When we get older, we will take on new roles which God will lead us to that we also get to choose.

Many people are called to married life. To be married means to choose a spouse and promise to love and take care of that person your whole life. You love them more than any other person, live with them, and raise children together. Marriage is a special role because a family, a Mom, Dad, and baby love each other like the love between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The family is a beautiful picture of Trinitarian love.

An important role in the Church is the priesthood. Some men are called to be incredible leaders in the Church and distribute the Sacraments to people. Priests act “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” – this is more than acting like Christ, in persona Christi means that he truly represents Christ, and that it is Christ who is acting when the priests act. This is why the priest says during Mass, “This is my body given up for you” it is Christ who says these words and offers himself as sacrifice. Only a priest or bishop acts “in persona Christi.”

Another state in life to which someone may be called is the single life. This means that a person does not marry nor become a priest, but dedicates the time and gifts they have to building up the Church. Each person has specific gifts and a specific role, and their state as a single person enables them to focus on their specific calling. Another form of single life is becoming a religious brother or sister. A religious person takes vows to give their life freely and totally to God, not another person. The single life places an incredible focus on God that models how many of us can grow. 

Remembering the role you have right now, it is also good to begin asking God in prayer what he wants to call you to! God calls us to a state that he knows we will be happiest in, and no matter where he calls us he will also be there to take care of us 

Questions:

What is your role right now? 
Which state in life involves loving and taking care of your spouse for your whole life? 
Who is able to act “in persona Christi”?
What does this mean? 
Which state takes a vow to God, and not to another person? 

Activity:

Ask your parents or a married couple that you know the biggest blessing of being married.
Ask a priest you know the biggest blessing of being a priest.

Relates to Jesus: Jesus' call for us to "be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" is our call to live as the daughter/son He has called us to be, free from selfishness and sin.

Relates to my Faith: The Church, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, gives us grace to live out the call to be holy and to serve others through our own particular vocation.

Sample Script:
Do you have dreams of what you want to do or be when you grow up? Do they include plans of what God is calling you to? If you have never thought about what God might have in mind, that’s okay! God does call you to a state in life where he knows you will be happiest, so it’s important to include his input into your plan making!

God calls people to a specific state in life. The most common state he calls people to is married life. Marriage is a covenant (a weighty promise that makes people become family) of life between a man and a woman, it exists for the well being of both the man and the woman so that they can be there for each other through life and reaching heaven, and for the birth of new babies and raising them. This state in life beautifully mirrors the Trinity – the love between a Mom, Dad and child is like the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your role right now is to be a son/daughter who loves and respects your parents and siblings.

Another heroic state in life that God calls men to is priesthood. You are familiar with the priest’s role at Mass – he gives the Sacraments and leads the people in worship. The priest acts “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” by the Sacrament of Holy Orders. He truly represents Christ so Christ is present and acting – he possesses the power and place of Christ himself. This doesn’t mean he pretends to be Christ like actors in a play. Rather, when the priest takes action it is Christ’s action.

Another state in life to which someone may be called is the single life. This means that a person does not marry nor become a priest, but dedicates the time and gifts they have to building up the Church. Each person has specific gifts and a specific role, and their state as a single person enables them to focus on their specific calling. Another form of single life is becoming a religious brother or sister. A religious takes vows to give their life freely and totally to God, not another person. The single life places an incredible focus on God that models how many of us can grow!

You can begin asking God what state in life he is calling you to remembering to include his input when you make plans for your future!

Questions:

What is a marriage covenant?
How does a family mirror the love of the Trinity? 
What does it mean to act “in persona Christi”? Can everyone do this? 
What are the 2 forms of single life? 
What are the vows that a religious takes? 

Activities:

Write a little letter to God, telling him your thoughts and plans for the future and entrusting them to him!

If you know a religious or priest, ask them the biggest blessing of their state in life.

Relates to Jesus: Jesus gives us the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders to make God's love manifest for those that we are called to serve.

Relates to my Faith: The universal call to holiness is the foundation for the soul called to give him or her self away in total self-giving love. Love of God leads to love of neighbor and they exist harmoniously with each other.

Sample Script:
Every single Christian is called to and given grace from God to imitate Christ. This does not necessarily mean travelling around, or wearing sandals, but it means we strive for a relationship with God, and reflect his love for us in the way that we love others. When a Christian reaches perfection in the way the love that resembles Christ, that is called holiness. Every Christian is called to holiness – to strive toward that perfection in imitating Christ’s love. This is something we work on our whole lives, and we cannot be totally perfect on our own just trying each day to be a little more like Jesus, God will ensure that we become holy. This is a state in life that each person is called to.

God also calls each person to a specific state in life. He calls us to the state where He knows we will be happiest, and that state serves us to help us become holy!

The most common state he calls people to is married life. Marriage is a covenant (a weighty promise that makes people become family) of life between a man and a woman, it exists for the well being of both the man and the woman so that they can be there for each other through life and reaching heaven, and for the birth of new babies and raising them. This state in life beautifully mirrors the Trinity – the love between a Mom, Dad and child is like the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your role right now is to be a son/daughter who loves and respects your parents and siblings.

Another heroic state in life that God calls men to is priesthood. You are familiar with the priest’s role at Mass – he gives the Sacraments and leads the people in worship. The priest acts “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” by the Sacrament of Holy Orders he truly represents Christ so Christ is present and acting – he possesses the power and place of Christ himself. This doesn’t mean he pretends to be Christ like actors in a play. Rather, when the priest takes action it is Christ’s action.

Another state in life to which someone may be called is the single life. This means that a person does not marry nor become a priest, but dedicates the time and gifts they have to building up the Church. Each person has specific gifts and a specific role, and their state as a single person enables them to focus on their specific calling. Another form of single life is becoming a religious brother or sister. A religious takes vows to give their life freely and totally to God, not another person. The single life places an incredible focus on God that models how many of us can grow!

Questions:
What is holiness? Are we to reach it on our own? 
What is a marriage covenant? 
By which heroic state can a man act “in persona Christi”? 
What are the two forms of religious life? 
What are other states in life God can call you to live?

Activity:

A little practice you can add to your day – silent prayer, reading about a Saint, doing something for your sibling to show you love them. With this little practice God will give you what you need to do it well and grow in holiness.

God calls each of us to a specific state of life. As you pray each day, reflect on to which state of life you feel called.

 

Relates to Jesus: Jesus is the face of God the Father and seeks to fulfill the will of Father in that mankind and God might be one in self-sacrificing love. The Sacraments of Service are an image of this plan. 

Relates to my Faith: The Catholic Church seeks to assist all men and women to finding fullness in their lives by lovingly giving themselves to serving others through the Sacraments of Service.

Sample Script:
Just as God has created each person unique with specific gifts and talents, God calls each person to a specific state in life, a vocation, to which their gifts and talents are ordered toward. We can choose our state in life, but God calls us to the state where he knows we will be happiest and fulfilled. Each vocation serves our number one calling in life to holiness, in that our vocation helps us to become who we are created to be.     

The most common calling is to a vocation of married life, and when lived well beautifully represents the love of Trinity. Marriage is a covenant, a binding promise between man and woman where they become each other’s family. This covenant is lifelong – permanent until death – where in the man and woman help each other through life and grow in holiness. Marriage exists for the good of the spouses and the procreation of children who they raise and teach. The love between the Mom, Dad and child mirrors the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

A heroic vocation that God calls some men to is the priesthood. This role is vital for the Church – without priests, we would not have access to the Sacraments! A priest’s main role is giving the Sacraments acting “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” by the Sacrament of Holy Orders he truly represents Christ so Christ is present and acting – he possesses the power and place of Christ himself. This doesn’t mean he pretends to be Christ like actors in a play. Rather, when the priest takes action it is Christ’s action. Only a priest or Bishop can do this, and it is because they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Like a wedding cake, there are 3 tiers of Holy Orders: 1. Bishop 2. Priest and 3.Deacon. Only the Bishop holds the fullness of the priesthood. A priest who is not a bishop receives the invisible character (or imprint) of “priest” on his soul, but his powers to function as a priest rest with his Bishop who grants his priests “faculties” or permissions to publicly celebrate Mass, hear confessions, preach, serve as an exorcist or in some additional capacity. While the Deacon assists the priest in the liturgy and preaches. Each of these roles is necessary and a blessing for the Church and the person who receives this Sacrament. 

Another state of life that God calls some too is religious life. This is open to both men and women, and it allows a person to put greater focus on their relationship with God on earth. Instead of making vows to another person (as in marriage) the religious makes vows to God directly and uses their gifts and talents to build God’s kingdom in whatever unique way they are called. Two famous women religious include St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. Teresa of Calcutta. It is a severe life of service, often free of many worldly distractions. 

The vocation to priesthood or religious life, though less common, also serves as a means to holiness for those called to them and often a very joyful life as well.

Questions: 
What does each vocation serve to help us do? 
What is the marriage covenant? What does the family beautifully represent? 
What does “in persona Christi” mean? 
What are the 3 tiers of Holy Orders?
What state in life makes vows to God, not to another person?

Activities: 

Make a chart of the 3 tiers of Holy Orders, writing what each involves. 

Research the lives of either St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Calcutta, or another famous religious that you know to learn more about that state of life.

Relates to Jesus:  Jesus intends to never leave His people, and so it follows that our commitment to lovingly serve the other in these Sacraments, which are fueled by the grace Jesus won on the Cross, is meant to be lived all of our life long.

Relates to my Faith: The Catholic Church teaches that our participation in these Sacraments are an emptying of ourselves so that the other might be loved and served throughout our life.

Sample Script:
Of the seven sacraments Christ instituted for the good of Church two are classified as the sacraments of service (or vocation). These are the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders. They are called “service” because they exist to be of service to the Church and to society. 

Just as God has created each person unique with specific gifts and talents, God calls each person to a specific state in life, a vocation, to which their gifts and talents are ordered toward. We can choose our state in life, but God calls us to the state where he knows we will be happiest and fulfilled. Each vocation serves our number one calling in life to holiness, in that our vocation helps us to become who we are created to be.      

The most common calling is to a vocation of married life, and when lived well beautifully represents the love of Trinity. Marriage is a covenant, a binding promise between a man and woman where they become each other’s family. This covenant is lifelong – permanent until death – where in the man and woman help each other through life and grow in holiness. Marriage exists for the good of the spouses and the procreation of children who they raise and teach. The love between the Mom, Dad and child mirrors the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

A heroic vocation that God calls some men to is the priesthood. This role is vital for the Church – without priests, we would not have access to the Sacraments! A priest’s main role is giving the Sacraments acting “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” by the Sacrament of Holy Orders he truly represents Christ so Christ is present and acting – he possesses the power and place of Christ himself. This doesn’t mean he pretends to be Christ like actors in a play. Rather, when the priest takes action it is Christ’s action. Only a priest or Bishop can do this, and it is because they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Like a wedding cake, there are 3 tiers of Holy Orders: 1. Bishop 2. Priest and 3. Deacon. Only the Bishop holds the fullness of the priesthood. A priest who is not a bishop receives the invisible character (or imprint) of “priest” on his soul, but his powers to function as a priest rest with his Bishop who grants his priests “faculties” or permissions to publicly celebrate Mass, hear confessions, preach, serve as an exorcist or in some additional capacity. While the Deacon assists the priest in the liturgy and preaches. Each of these roles is necessary and a blessing for the Church and the person who receives this Sacrament. 

Another state of life that God calls some too is religious life. This is open to both men and women, and it allows a person to put greater focus on their relationship with God on earth. Instead of making vows to another person (as in marriage) the religious makes vows to God directly and uses their gifts and talents to build God’s kingdom in whatever unique way they are called. It is a severe life of service, often free of many worldly distractions. 

The vocation to priesthood or religious life, though less common, also serves as a means to holiness for those called to them and often a very joyful life as well. 

 Questions: 

What does each vocation serve to help us do? 
What is the marriage covenant? What does the family beautifully represent? 
What does “in persona Christi” mean?
What are the 3 tiers of Holy Orders? 
What state in life makes vows to God, not to another person?

Activities: 

Make a chart of the 3 tiers of Holy Orders, writing what each involves. 

Research the lives of either St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Calcutta, or another famous religious that you know to learn more about that state of life. 

Relates to Jesus:  Jesus desires that all might be one and gives us the Sacraments to unite us close to Him, as His friends, and to share in this grace with our family and friends around us.

Relates to my Faith:  Our faith is one of community that is bound together by love and truth. Our lives must be witnesses to love and truth so that all might find their calling within the Church.

Sample Script:
Of the seven sacraments Christ instituted for the good of Church two are classified as the sacraments of service (or vocation). These are the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders. They are called “service” because they exist to be of service to the Church and to society. 

Just as God has created each person unique with specific gifts and talents, God calls each person to a specific state in life, a vocation, to which their gifts and talents are ordered toward. We can choose our state in life, but God calls us to the state where he knows we will be happiest and fulfilled. Each vocation serves our number one calling in life to holiness, in that our vocation helps us to become who we are created to be.

The most common calling is to a vocation of married life, and when lived well beautifully represents the love of Trinity. Marriage is a covenant, a binding promise between man and woman where they become each other’s family. This covenant is lifelong – permanent until death – where in the man and woman help each other through life and grow in holiness. Marriage exists for the good of the spouses and the procreation of children who they raise and teach. The love between the Mom, Dad and child mirrors the love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

By definition, marriage includes permanence until the death of one or the other spouse and can only be ontologically contracted when it is between a man and a woman. Other forms of marriage might be “legal” in contemporary society, but they do not and cannot ontologically constitute marriage. “Ontological” means a change in your being – marriage is an ontological change in which the man and woman become one flesh, and this change can only take place between a man and a woman. Together with their children they form the “domestic Church,” a miniature version of the Church. A father’s role should resemble the selfless sacrifice of Christ, even to the giving of his life. This will normally occur in a symbolic way as he sets aside his needs for the family’s sake. The mother will naturally make many sacrifices for her husband and for the family. The husband must take pains to thank her, assist her, and acknowledge her sacrifices in ways that are meaningful to her.

A heroic vocation that God calls some men to is the priesthood. This role is vital for the Church – without priests, we would not have access to the Sacraments! A priest’s main role is giving the Sacraments acting “in persona Christi” which means “in the person of Christ” by the Sacrament of Holy Orders he truly represents Christ so Christ is present and acting – he possesses the power and place of Christ himself. This doesn’t mean he pretends to be Christ like actors in a play. Rather, when the priest takes action it is Christ’s action. Only a priest or Bishop can do this, and it is because they receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Like a wedding cake, there are 3 tiers of Holy Orders: 1. Bishop 2. Priest and 3.Deacon. Only the Bishop holds the fullness of the priesthood. A priest who is not a bishop receives the invisible character (or imprint) of “priest” on his soul, but his powers to function as a priest rest with his Bishop who grants his priests “faculties” or permissions to publicly celebrate Mass, hear confessions, preach, serve as an exorcist or in some additional capacity. While the Deacon assists the priest in the liturgy and preaches. Each of these roles is necessary and a blessing for the Church and the person who receives this Sacrament. Women have many important roles in the Church, and serve in many important capacities, but their ontological makeup reflects that of the Church, which receives and loves, while men serve as Christ who gives to the Church his lifeblood. 

Those men and women who wish to put a special focus on God in their lives (without becoming a priest) may be called to religious life. Another state of life that God calls some too is religious life. This is open to both men and women, and it allows a person to put greater focus on their relationship with God on earth. Instead of making vows to another person (as in marriage) the religious makes vows to God directly and uses their gifts and talents to build God’s kingdom in whatever unique way they are called. It is a severe life of service, often free of many worldly distractions. 

The vocation to priesthood or religious life, though less common, also serves as a means to holiness for those called to them and often a very joyful life as well.

Questions: 
What ontological change takes place between a man and a woman in marriage? 
Who can act “in persona Christi”? What does this mean? 
What kind of vow does a religious take? 
Who holds the fullness of priesthood?
What is the "domestic church"?

Activities:
Speak with a priest, or a religious about their vocation. Many have a vocation story about their journey towards realizing the state of life that God has called them to. These can also be found on Youtube. 

Think of a holy married couple that you know. What makes them stand out to you? Make a point to tell them, and ask them about the blessings of married life.

I. The Sacrament of Matrimony: 

Scriptural References: Gen 1:26-28; 2:23; 3:3-4; Mt. 19:5-6; Mk 10:9; Jn 2:1-11; 4:4-18; 1 Cor 7:1-16; Eph 5:21-33; Rev 22:17

Catechetical References: CCC 1601-1666

Videos:
For Adults: 
For Teens
For Children

Background

The human institution of marriage has been around as long as men and women. The Old Testament passages on the sixth day of creation in the first chapter of Genesis and the creation of Eve as the express gift from God to fill Adam's lonliness in the second chapter of Genesis attest to the antiquity of this sacred institution. It is an institution willed by God as part of the plan for humanity, both in its structural ordering of society., and in the part it plays in the salvation of men and women. Catholic teaching recognizes marriage in both its natural form and its sacramental form. 
In its natural form, marriage comes about between any man and woman who intend by formal and public vow to be exclusively united to each other for the whole of their lives with the further intention of bringing children into the world (in the natural way) for their education and salvation (even if later the couple proves unable to have children, but not due to any means they have devised to prevent children aside from using the woman's natural fertility cycle to space, or post-pone children for grave reasons). 

The Three Ends of Marriage
The three ends of marriage, according to Canon law are: first, the procreation of offspring; second, the unity of the couple; and third, a remedy for concupiscence (i.e., the alleviation of temptations of sins of the flesh). 

The Goods of Marriage
Saint Augustine (354-430 A.D.) was the first theologian to formally identify what he called "the goods of marriage" identified as 1.the good of children 2. the fidelity of the couple, and 3. The sacramental graces of marriage (that come about when both spouses are baptized). In the goods of fidelity and the sacrament are found permanence of the marriage which lasts until the death of a spouse.  

Definition: According to Canon Law, the definition of marriage is a covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life, and which of its own very nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and education of children, and has, between the baptized, been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

In Catholic teaching, a marriage cannot be contracted unless all the conditions in the above canonical definition are met. If they are not, no marriage has taken place, regardless of whether vows are taken before a marriage authority. This lays the groundwork for the Catholic teaching on annulments, but if children are conceived in such a situation, they are considered to be valid (as opposed to illegitimate) regardless of whether the Church finds grounds for an annulment of the couple. Although, there is an obvious logical disconnect in this situation between the reality of an invalid marriage and the validity of the children conceived therein, it is by the mercy of God through the authority of the Church, which has all ontological authority over the instution of marriage because it is instituted by God himself, that the children of a presumed marriage, regardless of actual validity, are legitimately conceived. 

Why not an elopement?  Marriage, by its gravity and effects on human society in every sphere of its reality demands a public witness. Marriage is not a private thing. Every marriage has affects the whole community. That is why even secular authority has regulated it. However, in many nations, including our own, secular authorities have attempted and largely exceeded 

Matter:

Form:

Ordinary Minister: The minister of the couple is the couple themselves! It is not the priest or other minister. The priest or other minister acts as the offiiciator and as a public witness. However, if one party of the marriage is a baptized Catholic, the couple getting married is bound to what is known as "the liturigcal form" (not to be confused with the sacramental form) of the marriage. In the liturgical form, only a Bishop, priest, or deacon with the faculties (Bishop's permission) to perform a marriage may officiate at a wedding. 

  

How Ordained Catholic Priests are Different than Ordained Protestant Ministers

II. Sacrament of Holy Orders

Scriptural References: 

Catechetical References: 

Videos:
For Adults
For Teens
For Children

Theology and Historical Background


Definition: 

Matter:

Form:

Ordinary Minister:

Difference Between Sacramental Marriage and Natural Marriage