WEDDINGS

When a Christian man and woman agree to live together permanently, to become husband and wife and have a family, their agreement is called a marriage. In Christianity, as in most religions, marriage also involves a religious ceremony known as a wedding. The Christian marriage ceremony is performed by a chaplain, clergy, minister, or priest and takes place in an RMF, church, or chapel.

Marriage Doctrine

Many Christian faith groups consider marriage to be a sacrament and do not allow divorce. Many Christians consider marriage to be holy because St. Paul compared the relationship between a husband and wife to the relation between Jesus and the Church.

The marriage of one man to one woman is called monogamy. All Christian marriages are monogamous. If a man marries more than one woman, or a woman marries more than one man, it is a polygamous marriage. Although the Mormons, under Brigham Young, permitted polygamy, this practice has never been widespread in America because of the religious and social customs forbidding it.

An important purpose of Christian marriage is the family, wherein children are loved, sheltered, and educated in a Christian way. This means that the family is the foundation of Christian society.

Marital Laws

In the United States, no one may be married against his or her will. Typically, a woman has to be 18 years old and a man 21 years old before they may marry. If they are younger, they must have the consent of their parents. Each state has its own marrage laws, but most states require the following legal conditions:

1. There must be one or more witnesses to the marriage ceremony.

Figure 1-6.-Illustrations of forms of eucharistic rites. 1-17

2. The couple must have a license to marry.

3. They must pass a blood test that shows they have no dangerous disease.

Marriage Rites

The Christian rite for celebrating marriage varies among Christian faith groups. Regardless of faith group, however, the Christian marriage ceremony is always enriched in customs and traditions. The parts of a Christian wedding ceremony generally take place in the following sequence:

1. Bridal procession

2. Welcome

3. Sacred scripture readings

^4. Sermon

5. Introduction to the rite of marriage- significance, stateliness, and honor of marriage

6. Questions-regarding freedom to enter marriage, faithfulness, and acceptance of children

7. Consent-the couple proclaim their approve of the union

_8. Blessing of the rings

9. Exchange of rings-the bridegroom places his wife's ring on her ring finger

10. Blessing of the couple

11. Recessional

According to traditions, customs, or faith group, other actions may also take place, such as a special wedding benediction; a recitation of the Lord's Prayer; placing symbolic crowns on the bride and groom; lighting unity candles; presenting flowers to parents, guardians, or close relatives; use of meaningful musical choices; and the rites of communion or the eucharist.

Now that you have read about Christian weddings, let's take a look at another important Christian event-the funeral.

FUNERALS

Christian funerals are the ceremonial customs, traditions, or rites of death and burial. In the Christian faith, religious traditions surrounding death have evolved from the different concepts of human mortality.

Historically, Christians have followed the teachings of Jesus as interpreted in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark Luke, and John. Among his sayings, Jesus reflected upon a place where one goes after death. The Christian funeral rites are based on the interpretations of these reflections. Some examples of funeral responses among different Christian communities are shown in figure 1-7.