“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”
“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (CCC 1601)
The Church rejoices greatly in the coming together of man and woman before God, and we at Our Lady of Lourdes look forward to preparing you for the joys and challenges of that commitment!
Christ raised the marriage covenant to the level of Sacrament in order that it might instill grace, draw men and women into the loving plan of God, and be a witness of the steadfast faithfulness of God toward His people.
Christians seeking the Sacrament of Matrimony promise to each other to be faithful, open to life, and selfless in the pursuit of their spouse’s wellbeing. As Christ Himself proclaimed marriage to be indissoluble, the Church takes seriously the requirement that spouses enter into a marriage that is for life, and thus enter into the Sacrament as a sincere commitment of their lives for the sake of their spouse and the Church.
Engaged couples interested in the Sacrament of Marriage are encouraged to call our parish office at 217-877-4404 as early as possible to discuss potential dates and the necessary preparations for engaged couples.
For further questions regarding the Sacrament of Matrimony, please consult our FAQs.