Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another. God who created man out of love also calls him to love-the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. (CCC 1604).
The marriage vocation is the discovery of a call from God. The matrimonial covenant establishes between the man and woman a partnership for the whole of life, ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring. This covenant has been raised by Christ to the dignity of a Sacrament. (CCC 1601, 1605)
“The Church, in her wisdom, guards the distinction between being engaged and being spouses — it’s not the same — especially in view of the delicateness and depth of this test. Of course, today’s culture and society have become rather indifferent to the delicateness and seriousness of this step. Engagement is a path of life that has to ripen like fruit; it is a way of maturing in love, until the moment it becomes marriage.
Engagement, in other words, is the time when the two are called to perform a real labor of love, an involved and shared work that delves deep. Here they discover one another little by little…Engagement focuses on the will to care for something together that must never be bought or sold, betrayed or abandoned, however tempting the offer may be.” - Pope Francis, General Audience, May 27, 2015
Couples prior to engagement or after engagement should contact one of the priests at least eight months prior to their wedding to set appointments for marriage preparation meetings and to reserve a wedding date. Attendance at Pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter is also required, plus a Christian Sexuality workshop or Natural Family Planning class.
For more information, contact the parish office at (309) 734-7533, or info@immaculate-conception.net