What are Catholic Marriage Classes?

The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, matrimony, holy orders, and the anointing of the sick. Sacraments are ways in which God shares his holiness and through which grace, through Jesus, is shared with the participants.

Marriage in the Catholic Church is the Sacrament of Matrimony. Sacraments are not to be entered into lightly. All sacraments require some level of knowledge and consent. Engaged couples who want to participate in the Sacrament of Matrimony are required by the Church to prayerfully and seriously prepare for a lifelong commitment to The Catholic Church teaches that Sacramental Marriage is permanent and indissoluble, that is, it can’t be broken except by death.

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The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a vocation, or a calling. Some men are called to holy orders, that is, the priesthood. Some men and women are called to holy orders, such as religious life as a monk or nun. Some men and women are called to married life, which is as serious a vocation as holy orders. Priests and religious study for years to be prepared for their vocation. Those entering into the Sacrament of Matrimony are also required to prepare for a successful sacramental marriage.

“Pre-Cana” refers to the wedding at Cana. The wedding at Cana was a turning point for Jesus’ ministry. Sacramental marriage is a turning point in the life of engaged couples.

Jesus performed his first public miracle at a wedding in the Galilean town of Cana. His mother, Mary, asked him to step in to help when it became clear that the wedding hosts were running out of wine. Jesus turned at least 120 gallons of water into fine wine at the wedding in Cana. The full story can be read in the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Read it here.

Pre-Cana marriage classes are really “pre-wedding” classes. Jesus spent years discerning and preparing for his ministry and the salvation of the world. Cana was where his divine power to perform miracles was revealed. The wedding is where an engaged couple takes vows to live as a sacramentally married couple.

An engaged couple will meet with the priest, deacon, or other parish representative well in advance of their intended wedding date. They will be given instructions as to what type of Pre-Cana marriage preparation is required. Sometimes combinations of programs are advised.

Pre-Cana classes contain information presented by clergy, mentor couples, and other experts in relationships, communication, intimacy, and Natural Family Planning (NFP). Couples have the opportunity to explore topics they may have never discussed and to learn things about each other and themselves. They will acquire communication tools to help them navigate the inevitable conflicts and disagreements that arise in marriages.

Sometimes Catholic Marriage Classes are offered at weekend retreats that are arranged by parishes or dioceses. They have set times when the programs are offered throughout the year.

Other options are a series of classes offered by parishes or dioceses. There are also options for Catholic Marriage Classes, Pre-Cana, that are facilitated by mentor couples.

Pre-Cana classes can be taken online. The Marriage Group offers fully online Pre-Cana and NFP courses that are included in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ list of programs recommended for use in dioceses and parishes in the United States.

The classes are ideal for couples who want to prepare for marriage at their own pace. Couples who are separated by distance, have incompatible schedules, or want more privacy often choose online Pre-Cana courses.

Couples should get any online Pre-Cana courses approved by their priest, deacon, or other parish representative. Online courses like the ones offered by The Marriage Group can often be taken in tandem with other in-person Pre-Cana requirements.

The online Pre-Cana program offered by The Marriage Group takes about 8 hours to complete. Couples will watch videos, answer discussion questions, and have the opportunity to use His and Hers discussion guides to reflect on their preparation. Topics include the Theology and Spirituality of Marriage; Balancing Values, Careers, and Practical Issues; Finances; the Beauty of Sexuality and Intimacy in Marriage; Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution; Becoming Effective Communicators; Family of Origin; and Natural Family Planning (NFP Life).

Topics are presented by theologians, medical professionals, and married couples who have a wealth of knowledge to share. The current list of instructors can be found here.

Author: Jennie McClelland