In a world changing at the speed of light, where choices multiply, one question resonates strongly: does it still make sense to get married today? Above all, does it still make sense to get married in church?
Getting married today: a gift from God
We live in a time when the very concept of marriage has taken on a thousand different facets. And if we remove the sacred aspect, it risks becoming nothing more than a contract, two signatures that provide legal and social guarantees, yet - let’s be honest - without solid foundations, it is destined to collapse at the first difficulty.
It is therefore important to pause for a moment to understand the deeper meaning of Marriage: before being a human act, it is a gift from God to humanity. It is the place where, through the love between two people, we can “touch with our own hands” the immense love God has for humanity. Isn’t it wonderful to think that God himself is manifested and revealed in the everyday life of a couple?
The grace of the sacrament: it is possible for us to love forever
Certainly, Marriage existed before Christ, inscribed in our being male and female and in our need for relationship, but Jesus restored it to its original truth, elevating it to a sacrament, in response to a deep desire that dwells in our hearts: that of a radical, faithful, indissoluble love, without conditions or time limits.
Jesus, however, also knows our fragility; he knows how difficult it is for us to love “forever”. And this is where the greatness of the sacrament of Marriage lies: it is the gift Christ gave us to make us capable of living this love that seems “impossible.” Through the grace of the sacrament, he himself gives himself to us, making us sharers in his love. Grace makes the impossible possible! He asks for our will and effort, but assures us that, thanks to his strength, it is possible for us to love forever.
A choice of faith and an act of courage
Getting married in church today is a choice of faith, an act of courage. It means putting God at the center of one’s life and saying “yes” not only to the other person, but also to a journey that involves God. It means entering into a “we” that becomes a relationship between three: man, woman, and God. It means accepting a vocation, a new identity, a special mission in the Church and for the world, capable of manifesting a living reflection of the Trinity, a communion of love. How many couples preparing for marriage or already married are truly aware of this incredible truth? That their married love, through the sacrament, becomes an image of the love between Christ and the Church?
The journey will not always be easy. It will require constant commitment and growth. There will be difficulties, but sacramental Marriage is sustained by a relationship with Christ himself. When the groom and bride say «I welcome you», they welcome each other «with the grace of Christ».
Rediscovering and re-presenting the beauty of marriage
Despite today’s challenges and the reduced number of people choosing marriage, it is urgent to rediscover and re-present the beauty of this sacrament. We must help couples recognize the appeal of a Marriage that is participation in God’s love, «a luminous sign of Christ’s presence and his love».
That is why formation and pastoral accompaniment are essential for engaged couples and couples who wish to marry.
A valuable tool on this journey is the Rite of Marriage itself. It possesses incredible wisdom and richness of content, capable of revealing the profound value of marriage. It is a treasure waiting to be explored!
The Nuptial Mass
A practical aid in this regard is the book “The Nuptial Mass,” which presents the official texts of the Rite of Marriage.
It allows them to pause and reflect on the rich symbols and gestures of the Rite, from the remembrance of Baptism to mutual consent, the invocation of the Holy Spirit, and the final blessing. It helps future spouses actively prepare the celebration of the sacrament of Marriage, involving them directly in choosing rites, formulas, and readings from the Lectionary.
Through its pages, future spouses can explore the sacramental value of marriage and discover how their love shares in God’s love and reveals Christ.
But that’s not all: this book is a valuable ally for parish priests and pastoral workers too, as they accompany couples during the delicate preparation for Marriage. Giving this book to engaged couples (or discovering it together) means guiding them toward a conscious and wholehearted choice, making their “yes” a moment filled with eternal meaning.
So, does getting married still make sense today? The answer is a resounding yes. It makes sense because God makes it possible through the sacrament. And this book will help you understand how.
