III. Matrimonial Consent

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church

1631
This is the reason why the Church normally requires that the faithful contract
marriage according to the ecclesiastical form. Several reasons converge to
explain this requirement:¹³²
– Sacramental marriage is a liturgical act. It is therefore appropriate that it
should be celebrated in the public liturgy of the Church;
– Marriage introduces one into an ecclesial order, and creates rights and
duties in the Church between the spouses and towards their children; – Since
marriage is a state of life in the Church, certainty about it is necessary
(hence the obligation to have witnesses);
– the public character of the consent protects the “I do” once given
and helps the spouses remain faithful to it.

PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY

SECTION TWO THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
- CHAPTER THREE THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
  - Article 7 THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
    - III. Matrimonial Consent

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church – rosary.team