Professional paper
‘PROCEDURE FOR THE MARRIAGE’: FOR A FRUITFUL CELEBRATION AND LIFE OF THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
Emil Svažić
; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The author, in line with the theme of the Theological-pastoral conference in Rijeka “The preparation for a Christian marriage – a challenge for the evangelization” shows how the Canon law through ‘the procedure for the marriage’ contributes to the fruitfulness of celebration and life of the sacrament of marriage. Throughout the ‘procedure’ particular importance is given to the faith, which is of crucial importance for the valid celebration of marriage, and for the accomplishment of the newly formed marital union. The author refers to two speeches of Pope Benedict XVI to the Roman Rota, where the importance of the harmony between the law and the pastoral care was stressed, particularly in regard to the Christian marriage in its preparatory stage and the later phases. The Pope highlights the importance of the exam of the spouses, that should not be just of a formal nature. The Pope also stresses the irreplaceable role of the faith in the celebration of marriage, which should be awakened, supported and strengthened. Where the faith is completely lacking, it is legitimate to question the validity of the sacrament. The author encourages the ministers in the pastoral care of the family, especially the parish priests and vicars involved in the preparation of the spouses, to approach the preparation of the sacrament seriously and responsibly, in order to diminish the number of non-valid marriages (especially of those that are considered non-valid because of the lack of faith), and at the same time, to contribute that the marriages be more fruitfully celebrated and lived.
Keywords
procedure for the marriage; canon law and pastoral care; faith of the spouses; invalidity of the marriage
Hrčak ID:
170097
URI
Publication date:
7.11.2016.
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