The Sacrament of Matrimony

     Reflection Post - Matrimony is a vocation between the spouses. Marriage was always in God's plans from the beginning of time. Marriage is between God and the spouses. The spouses are the ministers of the Sacrament. Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, the spouses become one, united forever. Matrimony restores the harmony lost between man and woman due to sin. "The mutual sacrifice and devotion of husband and wife is a true picture of Christ's sanctifying sacrifice and devotion to His Church. 'Matrimony has its significance in the first place from Christ who took the Church as his bride at the price of his own blood. And also because when he offered his life as the price of her ransom, he stretched our his arms in an embrace of supreme love. And thirdly: as Eve was formed from the side of Adam while he slept, so the Church was formed from the side of the dying and dead Christ, as the two chief sacraments poured from his side - the blood of redemption and the water of absolution' (Albertus Magnus)." http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=7