Questions / Confession and the sacraments

Why is marriage a sacrament?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Bishop Robert Barron

Video: Bishop Barron on the Sacrament of Marriage, Bishop Robert Barron, published Jul 13, 2017. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Because Christ made marriage between the baptized a sign of His own love for the Church. CCC 1601 CCC 1617

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

The marriage covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. CCC 1601

Christian marriage becomes an effective sign of the covenant between Christ and the Church. CCC 1617

Our words

Your marriage isn’t just a contract; it’s a place where God shows up, in dishes and diapers and forgiving each other.

Watch another on this

Play video: Is the Eucharist Just A Symbol?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 5 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Are the sacraments just symbols?

Play video: What Is a Sacrament? Why Do We Need Them? (Aquinas 101), The Thomistic Institute (Dominican friars), from The Thomistic Institute, 5 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

What are the seven sacraments?

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1601, 1617 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.