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Religious marriage is as beautiful as it is symbolic, but it also entails certain obligations on the part of the bride and groom. In addition to having a baptismal certificate and two witnesses, the bride and groom must present to the church where they will contract the sacrament the document that proves that they attended the premarital talks. If you are not aware of this, here we tell you in detail ofwhat this indispensable item is about to advance on your way to the altar.

What do the courses consist of?

The premarital talks are a mandatory requirement for couples to be able to contract the sacred bond by the Catholic Church. Through theoretical and practical exposure, the monitors delve into various topics that concern the future husband and wife, such as communication in the couple, sexuality, family planning, child rearing, home economics andAll of this, from a deep and sincere conversation, in a space of reflection. There is also Bible reading, problem solving and other methodologies that aim to guide the couple in this new stage under the values and principles shared by Catholicism. The course should be taken by any couple in which one of its members belongs to this religion. It isthat is, whether they are two Catholics or a Catholic and a person of another religion, atheist or agnostic.

How far in advance should they be taken?

It is recommended that the bride and groom sign up for the training eight to ten months before the wedding, so that they will have the paperwork ready in advance and have plenty of time to deal with any unforeseen events that may arise along the way.

How long do the courses last?

There are four sessions of approximately 60 to 120 minutes each, which are given in groups to engaged couples, although there are usually no more than three. The objective is to generate an intimate and trusting atmosphere, so a larger number would make it difficult to work in a personalized way. At the end of the talks, the bride and groom are given a certificate that they must present at the parish.or church where the matrimonial file is being processed.

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Who teaches it?

The prenuptial talks are given by catechists who are husband and wife, who have been specially prepared in the parish to take on this work for no remuneration other than the satisfaction of sharing their knowledge and experience with others. In addition to the bride and groom, sometimes it is requested that the groomsmen also attend one or two meetings; while, on the part of the church, it isThere are even some cases in which all four talks are given by a priest.

Where do they take place?

Although it depends on each church, temple or parish in particular, there are two modalities that are the most common: in the home of the monitors or in the parish itself. Generally, for the latter option, the four sessions are condensed into a full day of the weekend. At the time of registration, the bride and groom can choose the option that best suits them.

What is the value?

The premarital talks do not have a determined price, since it depends on the modality adopted by each church, temple or parish. In any case, it is generally a voluntary cooperation that the couple gives to the religious institution. It usually has to do with an economic contribution for improvements in the place, either for infrastructure or implements, among others.However, there are also cases in which the bride and groom contribute powdered milk, for example, for children in a home that is connected with the parish or chapel.