“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
A sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible reality that gives grace. In marriage, the visible sign is the love that a husband and wife have for each other and the fruitfulness of their union. The invisible reality to which they point is the love that Jesus has for his bride, the Church, and the fruitfulness of God’s creation bringing new life into the world. In the Sacrament of Marriage, God gives grace, that is to say, supernatural power, to make His own love, mercy, generosity, fruitfulness, kindness, and compassion tangible.
The task of marriage is to make the invisible God visible by the love a husband and wife have for each other and their openness to new life. Knowing how hard real love is, we pray for those who are married, so that they may be beautiful witnesses of God’s love. More information and resources are available through the diocesan office.
The sacrament of Holy Matrimony requires at least six months of preparation before the wedding. Contact Fr. Calixtus at (540) 894-4266 or email [email protected] to begin the process.