Q: I am failing to understand why the second edition of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony  states clearly  that the marriage record is not to be signed on the altar (78), while the rite of Religious Profession (65) allows the newly professed to sign the document of profession upon the altar itself. How can this be explained, knowing that the Matrimony is a sacrament and the religious profession is not.I always appreciate your insights.

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A: I don’t know for sure, but let me share what I know.

First, in the US, the pertinent paragraph in the Order of Religious Profession is now no. 80 because the enumeration continues sequentially after the first fifteen numbers.

There is other differences between religious profession and matrimony besides the latter being a sacrament. People in religious profession are making vows, whereas in matrimony they are giving consent. We often speak colloquially of “marriage vows,” but the liturgy treats them differently. The exchange of consent affects the sacrament, and that is why the Church discourages a renewal of consent. It is given once and for all. In religious life, though, the vows may be and often are renewed.

Additionally, it’s not clear to me what OCM 78 means when it speaks of the “marriage record” as signed by the witnesses and the priest, as I’ve written in my book Inseparable Love. Is it the church record or the civil record? I don’t know how it is in your part of Africa, but in the US the ceremony at church completes both the civil and sacramental union. The nature of the civil record changes from State to State and county to county. In some parts of the world, the couple themselves sign the civil record, but here they typically do not. Also here, typically, the church record containing the names of the couple, the witnesses, and the priest or deacon is entered shortly after the ceremony in the parish office. 

The two principal witnesses and the priest or deacon are all witnesses. They are not the ones contracting the marriage. The couple do that themselves. In religious profession, however, the one who signs the record is the one who has made the profession. That may have an impact on the use of the altar.

Perhaps someone else who follows the blog can shed more light on this, but that’s the best I can do.