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Dominic Majesty wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Who is the Ordinary Minister of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony?

Dominic

  { Who is the Ordinary Minister of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony? }

Bob replied:

Dominic,

In the Catholic Church, as opposed to Orthodox churches, the ministers of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony are the couple themselves.

A priest or deacon may officiate on behalf of the Church because marriage is a public and communal institution, but He does not marry them; that is their and God's Doing.

Peace,

Bob Kirby

Eric replied:

Dominic—

Bob's answer is right on target; I don't have a whole lot to add.

In the Orthodox Church, the priest is considered the minister of the sacrament, and that is why they don't have annulments. In the Eastern Catholic churches there is a certain tension as the practice is to confer annulments as in the West (out of respect for the West) but their theology wants to be Eastern.

Hope this helps,

Eric

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