Public exchange of vows is an essential part of the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Church calls the exchange of vows consent—that is, the act of will by which a man and a woman give themselves to each other, and accept the gift of the other. The marriage can’t happen without this declaration, or vow of consent.
In Matrimony, man and woman are called to the love and union of spouses that reflects the life of the Trinity. The vows are a public proclamation of the unconditional lifelong love that a husband and wife vow to each other, and reflect the love of Christ for his Church.
Learn more about sacramental marriage at realtrue.org
Up Next in Unit 22 | Holy Matrimony
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What makes Catholic marriage a sacram...
Marriage is an image of God’s unconditional love and covenant with His Church. God created man and woman out of love and calls them to love. The Sacrament of matrimony reveals the mystery that men and women are made for each other. The Sacrament of Marriage gives sacramental grace. Jesus gives th...
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Commitments vs promises: what's the d...
There are many different types of promises, and they have varying degrees of importance legally or culturally. In the Old Testament, there was a big difference between a promise, a contract, and a very special type of promise, known as a covenant. A contract often involves the exchange of propert...
