In the Catholic Church, there are seven Sacraments. A Sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible reality, instituted by Christ, which imparts grace. There are:
Three Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Two Sacraments of Healing: Penance and the Anointing of the Sick.
Two Sacraments of Service: Holy Orders and Matrimony.[1]
The first thing you should notice is that marriage is a Sacrament of Service. That should get your attention. Marriage is to be other-focused, the pouring out of your life for the good of your spouse and any children with which you may be blessed.
All other Sacraments were instituted by Christ, whereas marriage was elevated by Christ to a Sacrament. It is the “primordial” Sacrament being created by God (see Genesis 1 and 2). The Catechism of the Catholic Church says “Christian spouses are fortified and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and dignity of their state”[2] by the Sacrament.
