Print

U.S. Norms for Marriage Preparation

on . Marriage Preparation

stainedglassMarriage150The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of Canon 1067 and with due regard for Canon 1068, hereby decrees that the following norms shall be observed in preparation of a couple for marriage:
  1. The couple should receive appropriate education and pastoral preparation through participation in a marriage preparation program approved by the diocesan bishop;
  2. Parties should be questioned as to their freedom to marry;
  3. Baptized Catholics should present a recently issued annotated baptismal certificate;
  4. Where necessary, additional documentation (such as affidavits of parents) attesting to a Catholic party's freedom to marry should be presented;
  5. Baptized non-Catholics should present satisfactory proof of baptism and freedom to marry;
  6. Unbaptized persons should present satisfactory proof of freedom to marry;
  7. Preparation for marriage should be in conformity with the prescriptions of canon 1063 (regarding what must precede marriage) and canons 1064, 1071, 1072, 1086§2 and 1125, which entrust certain situations to the special care of local ordinaries;
  8. Preparation for marriage should be in compliance with appropriate civil laws.
Print

Vatican Guidelines

on . Marriage Preparation

Excerpt from Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage
from the Pontifical Council for the Family (1996)
The starting point for an itinerary of marriage preparation is the awareness that the marriage covenant was taken up and raised to a sacrament of the New Covenant by the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The sacrament joins the spouses to the self-giving love of Christ the Bridegroom for the Church, his Bride (cf. Ephesians 5: 25-32) by making them the image of, and sharers in this love.
Print

Other Sources for Marriage Preparation

on . Marriage Preparation

  • Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc
    Catholic Marriage Preparation, Inc. (CMP    ) is dedicated to the building of strong Catholic marriages.  With God being the source and foundation of marriage, it is foremost a spiritual journey.  CMP is deeply rooted in John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and the teachings of the Catholic Church. Visit by clicking here.
  • The Family Life Institute: Christian Married Life
    The Family Life Institute is an educational agency responding to the challenge of the Pontifical Council on the Family to educate children in faith and morals in ways that acknowledge the dignity, responsibility and competency of parents.
    Christian Married Life     helps meet the challenges of marriage preparation in today's culture with slide shows that help provide an understanding of the objectives in marriage preparation, the conditions facing the engaged couple, an orientation on the preparation sequence and how the presentations work in the Sincere Gift of Self Marriage Course.   Read more and to order products
  • The Gift Foundation: The Sacrament of Marriage Seminar
    The Gift Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 dedicated to helping people understand the beauty and reasoning behind the Catholic Church's teaching on marriage and sexuality through audio and video products, conferences, and seminars. 
    The Sacrament of Marriage Seminar is a program of 11 videos exploring various aspects of Christian Marriage.  Read more—and to order products
  • Ascension Press: God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage
    Ascension Press is a private Catholic book and program publisher.  Their products are available online and in various bookstores.
    God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage is a new, supplemental marriage preparation program by renowned Catholic author and teacher Christopher West, based on Pope John Paul II’s revolutionary Theology of the Body.                                                        California locations  Read more—and to order products