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Marriage"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24 The sacrament of marriage celebrates the love and friendship between a man and a woman. The sacrament gives the couple the grace to grow into a union of heart and soul, to provide stability for themselves and their children. Children are the fruit and bond of a marriage. The bond of marriage between a man and a woman lasts all the days of their lives, and the form of the rite consists of the mutual exchange of vows by a couple, both of whom have been baptized. The bond is compared to God's undying love for Israel in the Old Testament, and Christ's love for his Church in the New Testament. The importance of marriage is substantiated by the presence of Christ at the wedding feast of Cana, where he began his public ministry at the request of his mother Mary by performing his first miracle. For details on receiving the Sacrament of Marriage at St Patrick's Cathedral, click here. |
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