The Evangelium #16

1. Marriage
and Holy
Orders

2. The Sacrament of Marriage
The Marriage at Cana by Giotto di Bondone

3. The Sacrament of Marriage
Marriage is that sacrament by which a baptised man and woman
are bound together by vows to an exclusive lifelong commitment
to one another and to accepting and raising children. In this
sacrament God gives grace for the fulfilment of these duties.
KEY DEFINITION

4. What are the roots of Marriage?
The Garden of Eden by Jacob de Backer
This picture emphasises how God established the marriage of man and
woman from the beginning of human creation.

5. What are the roots of Marriage?
God created human beings
as male and female.
This complementarity is the
natural basis of Marriage,
which, throughout history,
has provided a stable and
loving environment for the
procreation and raising of
children.

6. What are the roots of Marriage?
Marriage is naturally
monogamous and
indissoluble but, due to the
Fall, polygamy and divorce
have often been tolerated.
Jesus says that these latter
practices were not part of
God’s intention in creation.

7. What are the roots of Marriage?
They said, “Moses allowed a man
to write a certificate of divorce, and
to put her away.” But Jesus said to
them, “For your hardness of heart
he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation,
‘God made them male and female.’
For this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined
to his wife, and the two shall
become one flesh. So they are no
longer two but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together,
let not man put asunder.”
Mk 10:2-9

8. Christ and the sacrament of Marriage

9. Jesus The groomThe bride
Mary
The steward
The jars
containing the water
transformed into wine.
This picture shows the miracle at Cana, where Christ
transformed water into wine at the prayer of his mother.
This is a symbol of the blessing he gives to Marriage and his
elevation of this union into a sacrament.

10. Christ and the sacrament of Marriage
The Catechism affirms that Marriage was
“raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a
Sacrament” (ccc. 1601).
When a man and woman are baptised,
they become members of the Church
which is the ‘Bride of Christ’. This
relationship of Christ with his Church
is then made present in their
sacramental Marriage, marking it with a
specifically Christian character.
‘Marriage’ from
The Seven Sacraments
by Weyden

11. Christ and the sacrament of Marriage
St Paul confirms this by referring to
Marriage as a mysterion, which can be
translated as ‘sacrament’.
For this reason a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and the
two shall become one flesh. This mystery
(mysterion) is a profound one, and I am saying
that it refers to Christ and the Church.
Eph 5:31-32

12. • Joy in loving union, and a foretaste of
the ‘Wedding Feast of the Lamb’ (Rev. 19:7).
• Sacrifice, in that the spouses follow
Christ in giving their lives for each other
unto death.
• Fruitfulness, in both the growth in
holiness of the spouses and acceptance
of children.
This link with Christ and the Church implies:
Christ and the sacrament of Marriage

13. What is necessary for the sacrament?
Marriage of the Virgin by Giotto di Bondone
This picture shows the marriage of Mary and Joseph. The dove represents the
Holy Spirit, whose presence makes the consent of the spouses sacramental.

14. What is necessary for the sacrament?
The spouses confer the sacrament on
one another. They must vow freely,
have no impediments (such as
previous valid Marriages), be
committed to one another for life
and be open to children from God.
Following the established rite, each
must say, “I take you ...” in the
presence of a minister and witnesses.

15. What is necessary for the sacrament?
As Marriage is indissoluble until death,
divorce is impossible. An annulment is
the recognition by the Church that
there was never a valid Marriage.
All valid Marriages between Christians
are sacramental. When both spouses
practice the same Catholic faith,
however, they share a common,
supernatural vision for their relationship
and receive many blessings.

16. Summary
Questions
to reinforce
key points
Discussion
questions
Practical
activities
Presentation Part II
Summary Activities I
Please select an activity or go immediately
to part II of the presentation

17. Summary
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
• Marriage is that sacrament by which a
baptised man and woman are bound together
by vows to an exclusive lifelong commitment
to one another and to accepting and raising
children. In this sacrament God gives grace
for the fulfilment of these duties.
• The relationship of Christ with his Church is
made present in a sacramental Marriage. This
also implies that joy, sacrifice and fruitfulness
are characteristics of Marriage.
• The spouses confer the sacrament on one
another. Following the established rite, each
must say, “I take you ...” in the presence of a
minister and witnesses.

18. Questions to reinforce key points
Joy
Sacrifice
Fruitfulness
What does the link between Christ and
his Church imply for Marriage itself?
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
1
2
3
Click on a box to reveal one
of the answers

19. Discussion questions
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
• Discuss why marriage is considered
to be a fundamental and necessary
institution in human society.
• Marriage was “raised by Christ the Lord
to the dignity of a Sacrament” (ccc. 1601).
Discuss what is special about
Christian Marriage.
• Discuss some experiences of what
makes a joyful, sacrificial and fruitful
Christian Marriage.
Select one or more of the following

20. Practical activities
Activities Menu Presentation Part II
• Read through the Rite of
Marriage, making a special
note of what promises the
spouses make.
• Read John 2:1-11 (the
miracle at Cana) and
Ephesians 5:21-6:4 (on
Marriage and family life).
Select one or more of the following

21. The Sacrament of Holy Orders
The Ordination of Saint Lawrence by Fra Angelico

22. The Sacrament of Holy Orders
Holy Orders is the sacrament in which a
baptised man receives the authority and
ability to share in the particular mission
that Christ entrusted to his apostles.
There are three orders of this sacrament:
episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate.
The sacrament is conferred through
the laying on of hands and the
consecratory prayer of the bishop
according to the rite of the Church.
KEY DEFINITION

24. Pope Sixtus II
hands the chalice and paten to the
newly ordained deacon, Lawrence,
for service at the altar.
This picture shows the ordination of St Lawrence by Pope St
Sixtus II. It reminds us of the three-fold nature of Holy
Orders and the way in which the sacrament is conferred.
Priest Bishop Deacon
The Book of the Gospel
which every ordained minister is
bound to proclaim.

25. Where do Holy Orders come from?
Christ Teaches his Disciples by Duccio di Buoninsegna

26. Where do Holy Orders come from?
Jesus called disciples to follow him in a
variety of ways, shown forth today by the
many forms of lay, consecrated and
ordained ministry and service.

27. Where do Holy Orders come from?
From among his disciples, Jesus set aside twelve
men, the ‘apostles’, specially ordaining them to:
• Govern with his authority, “Whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven” (Mt 18:18).
• Teach in his name, “Make disciples … teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-
20).
• Sanctify with the power of his sacraments,
“Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19).

28. How are Holy Orders passed on?

29. How are Holy Orders passed on?
The apostles conferred Holy Orders on their
successors, the bishops; they in turn conferred the
sacrament to ordain priests and deacons.
Today in the person of Christ those in Holy Orders:
• Govern – by uniting, protecting and leading
the faithful to their heavenly homeland.
• Teach – by preaching and explaining
Scripture and Tradition with authority.
• Sanctify – by conferring the sacraments and
interceding with God for his people.

30. How are Holy Orders passed on?
THE THREE SACRAMENTAL ORDERS
Bishops
are the successors of the apostles. They
usually govern dioceses, can confer Holy
Orders on others, and normally administer
Confirmation. Together with the Pope they
exercise an infallible teaching authority for
the whole Church.

31. How are Holy Orders passed on?
THE THREE SACRAMENTAL ORDERS
Priests
are co-workers of the bishops, particularly as
governors and teachers of parishes (where
they are properly called ‘Father’). They
sanctify the faithful through the celebration
of the Eucharist, the forgiveness of sins in
Confession, Baptism and the Anointing of
the Sick. They also preside at Marriages.

32. How are Holy Orders passed on?
THE THREE SACRAMENTAL ORDERS
Deacons
assist the work of the bishop and his priests,
especially by assisting at the altar, proclaiming
the gospel and works of charity. While a
promise of lifelong celibacy is the normal
condition for reception of Holy Orders, a
permanent deacon may be married.

33. The call to Holy Orders
Christ handing the keys to St Peter by Pietro Perugino
This reminds us that Christ called his apostles by name and continues to
call men to Holy Orders, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”

34. The call to Holy Orders
Jesus has said explicitly that the
call to Holy Orders is his initiative
rather than ours. “You did not choose
me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16).
The call is discerned and freely
accepted by the man who receives
it. The Church tests this call and
prepares the candidate for Holy
Orders by means of spiritual,
human, academic and pastoral
formation, usually in a seminary.

35. The call to Holy Orders
For every high priest taken from
among men is ordained for men
in the things that appertain to
God, that he may offer up gifts
and sacrifices for sins.
Heb 5:1
Christ on the Cross by Velazquez

36. Summary
Questions
to reinforce
key points
Discussion
questions
Practical
activities
Concluding Prayer
Summary Activities II
Please select an activity or go immediately
to the concluding prayer

37. Summary
Activities Menu Concluding Prayer
• Holy Orders is the sacrament in which a
baptised man receives the authority and
power to share in the particular mission
that Christ entrusted to his apostles.
There are three orders of this sacrament:
episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate.
• In the person of Christ those in Holy
Orders govern, teach and sanctify the
people of God.
• The sacrament is conferred through the
laying on of hands and the consecratory
prayer of the bishop according to the rite
of the Church.

38. Questions to reinforce key points
To govern
To teach
To sanctify
What are the three duties of those in Holy Orders?
Activities Menu
1
2
3
Click on a box to reveal one
of the answers
Concluding Prayer

39. Discussion questions
Activities Menu
• Discuss why the sacrament of Holy
Orders is necessary for the
continuation of Christ’s mission.
• Discuss ways in which vocations to the
priesthood might be encouraged.
Select one or more of the following
Concluding Prayer

40. Practical activities
Activities Menu
• Read through the Rite of Ordination
for a priest, making a special note of
what promises he makes.
• Invite a bishop, priest or deacon to
talk about his vocation, training,
ordination and/or experiences in
sacred ministry.
Select one or more of the following
Concluding Prayer

41. Final Prayer
Prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola
Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will – all that I
have and call my own. You have given it all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do
with it what you will. Give me only your love and
your grace. That is enough for me.
Amen.