Day 221: The Celebration of Marriage

In the Latin Church, it is ordinarily understood that the spouses, as ministers of Christ's grace, mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. In the Eastern liturgies, the minister of this sacrament (which is called "Crowning") is the priest or bishop who, after receiving the mutual consent of the spouses, successively crowns the bridegroom and the bride as a sign of the marriage covenant. CCC 1623

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage. Couples normally "mutually confer upon each other the sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church," as quoted above. It is "appropriate" for the couple "prepare themselves... by receiving the sacrament of penance," (CCC 1622) which is fitting since "the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass" (CCC 1621). Needless to say, the usual and most natural place for the sacrament to be celebrated is within a church, so publicly in the presence of a priest and witnesses. 

I do like the Catechism Companion, Vol II commentary on this:

There is something remarkable about the fact that once a couple is married, everything they do will be as a married couple. Their lives embody the sacrament. And the first thing they will do together once married, during the wedding Mass, is pray. "The Holy Spirit is the seal of their covenant, the ever available source of their love and the strength to renew their fidelity" (CCC 1624). (p. 206)

I also like how the Catechism draws on Matthew 19:12 about those who willingly give up matrimony in order "to follow the Lamb wherever he goes" (CCC 1618). That was a nice touch to add this here. The Catechism Companion has some good commentary on this:

These consecrated virgins are living witnesses, in a hedonistic world, of joy and freedom without having a sexual relationship by giving themselves in love and service to the Lord. (p. 206)

Finally, the Catechism does a good job tying both marriage and virginity together in Christ with this quote from St. John Chrysostom:

Whoever denigrates marriage also diminishes the glory of virginity. Whoever praises it makes virginity more admirable and resplendent. What appears good only in comparison with evil would not be truly good. The most excellent good is something even better than what is admitted to be good. CCC 1620