Catholic & Jewish Marriage Ceremonies
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This paper discusses the institution of marriage and its associated ceremonies within the Catholic and Jewish faiths. Almost every human society recognizes at least one form of matrimonial contract, binding couples together, most often in order to found families, and most religions offer ceremonies, customs, and rituals that recognize the establishment of these contracts. Catholicism and Judaism are no exceptions. The ways in which each celebrates and solemnizes marriage give indications of the similarities and contrasts between these two contrasting faiths. Marriage, the contract between a man and a woman, often designed to establish and maintain a family, is a social arrangement found in societies throughout history. Especially in many Western societies, this contract is also viewed as a religious sacrament. Within the Catholic church, matrimony has been considered one of the church's seven sacraments since the 13th century. Marriage, along with baptism, confirmation, and the administration of holy orders, is considered a sacrament that may be administered only once in an individual's lifetime. This is based on the idea that, because God is faithful in his promises, the gift of these sacraments cannot be withdrawn. The other three sacraments, Eucharist (holy communion), penance, and anointing of the sick, can be administered as often as necessary; indeed, communion can be received as often as every day by the most devout worshippers.
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he longest and most important components of the mass are the liturgy of the word and the eucharistic liturgy, including the delivery of Holy Communion, one of the other sacred sacraments. The bride and groom celebrate the Eucharist as part of their abiding commitment to each other and to the establishment of a family for the perpetuation of the church.
One of the most controversial aspects of Catholic marriage is the issue of annulment. Because marriage is considered an unbreakable bond, the circumstances under which it can be annulled, or considered never to have happened, are carefully outlined by the church; devout Catholics believe that annulment should be granted sparingly, while more liberal thinkers in the church make a strong case for recognizing "the death of an intolerable and irremediable marriage" (Kelleher 192). Annulment is much more common in the United States than in other parts of the Catholic world.
Marriage in the Jewish faith is celebrated in even more diverse ways than among Catholics. However, Tasman observes, "Although Jewish weddings, like the Jews themselves, have adapted to the culture and the period in which they occur, they retain a unique identification through all their metamorphoses" (47). Tha
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1808
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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