Towards Marriage
Marriage in the Lord gives the presence and help of God so that the spouses can live their Christian life with commitment. With the celebration of the wedding, the bride and groom understand everything that adorns and beautifies their holy moment.
Some details that the couple should take note of:
Formative Preparation
- Make sure that you have booked the church where you will celebrate the wedding mass. The Rector of the church will give you a form to inform your parish priests.
- It would be good to choose a priest to assist you in the preparation of the wedding celebration and to maintain contact with him to grow in the journey of your faith.
- Make sure to do the marriage preparation course two years in advance.
- Cana Movement and several parishes offer a meeting for those engaged couples who, after the preparation course, wish to continue their formation. Ask your parish for more information about this.
- About six months before the wedding you will have the final pre-marital preparation. The parish priests will inform you of this.
Official Preparation
- After having already spoken with their parish priest, three months before the wedding, each person goes to the parish priest where they live to have the pre-marital examination carried out. Make sure that you have with you the certificates of the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation of the Bishop together with the certificate of the Cana course.
- Three months before the wedding, go together to the Public Registry Office, Evans Building, Valletta, to have the civil marriage ceremonies performed. Take with you your identity card and a copy of the identity card of the witnesses. Make an appointment in advance by calling tel. 2590 4200.
- Two months before the wedding, make an appointment with the Marriage Office of the Curia, Floriana (in front of the Police Headquarters). When you go, take with you the documents given to you by the Parish Priests for the issuance of the Church ceremonies. For an appointment with the Marriage Office, you can call from Monday to Friday between 11.00a.m. and 12.00p.m. on 2590 6205. For more information, one can send an email to [email protected].
Spiritual Preparation
- Together with the priest who will officiate at your wedding, prepare for this celebration by choosing the readings and other prayers of the mass, see the marriage rite and the blessing on the bride and groom. Pass a copy of them to those who will read so that they are prepared.
- It is good to remind your guests to come and participate in the mass. Everyone who attends, especially those who take part such as the bride, witnesses, readers and bridesmaids, should have appropriate clothing for the house of God.
- The singing and music should be live and liturgical, appropriate to the function. The singing should be agreed with the priest who will officiate at your wedding and/or with the Parish Priest/Rector of the church.
- Floral decorations, especially around the altar, should not distract from the Eucharist.
- It is good to remind photographers and videographers to arrive at the church on time and not to disrupt the spirit of gathering and prayer during the celebration.
- Photographs are not taken during the homily and in the case of video, it should remain in a stable position to the side.
- Wedding organisers should discuss ideas for the celebration of Mass with the priest who will be officiating the wedding and/or with the Parish Priest/Rector of the church and ensure that they take their direction.
- It is important to prepare yourselves spiritually by praying together and for each other every day and to spend half a day of gathering in a house of prayer. An experience that can help is participating together in Sunday mass.
- Make sure that before you get married you find time to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- It is a wonderful thing to share this joy of yours also with those who have particular needs.
After Marriage
- After marriage, it is good to continue growing in your relationship. The Cana Movement, a number of parishes and associations, offer various meeting groups for married couples, including for new families. Ask your parish for more information.
During this time of preparation, you will come into contact with several people who love you and want you well. Do not be afraid to talk to them and seek their help. I wish you once again a beautiful preparation and a joyful celebration. Continue to take care and show respect for each other. That way you will be truly happy and joyful together.