Surely he can be given credit for caring at least as much as we. He worked his first miracle at a wedding (John 3:1-11) and he taught that marriage in the New Covenant is permanent and holy (Matthew 19:3-9).. By this principle martyrs would be fools, and goodness would simply depend upon how low the pressure was. When Jesus institutes a sacrament, he requires that his followers use it. The Catholic Church distinguishes between a legal marriage and the Sacrament of Matrimony. All rights reserved. In addition to the conferring of grace, another effect of the sacrament of Matrimony is the forging of the marriage bond, a moral change wrought in the souls of the married couple. The form of a sacrament consists of the words by which the Sacrament is affected. The unity of marriage is opposed to polygyny (many wives) and polyandry (many husbands). It is from this “quasi-character,” this matrimonial bond, that result the two properties of marriage: unity and indissolubility (such a jaw-breaker!). God didn’t have to share his creative power with his own creatures and make the beginning of a new human life depend upon the free cooperation of a man and a woman with himself. How did the idea of the unity and indissolubility of marriage gradually develop in the Law of Moses, the teachings of the prophets, and finally, in the New Covenant established by Christ? Some tell me not to say anything and to pray for her — it's almost 8 years since she has been married. (3) After Marriage… Since Christ’s time, monogamy (one spouse) must be the rule without exception. He worked his first miracle at a wedding (John 3:1-11) and he taught that marriage in the New Covenant is permanent and holy (Matthew 19:3-9).. Yes, someone may say, that is all very true. Our juvenile courts and mental hospitals bear daily witness to the evils that follow when the unity and permanence of marriage are forgotten. Christ himself elevated the natural institution of marriage to the dignity of a sacrament during his public ministry. Marriage was a “natural,” we might say, for elevation to the holy rank of a sacrament. The secondary purpose is the mutual completion which a man and a woman are destined to find in one another—the enrichment and growth which results from their fusion into a new unity, one from two. (The writer, whose principal work is with children from broken homes, can bear witness to the harmful effects of step-parentage.). God will be doubly a Father to them. It is God, then, who bestowed upon humans the power of procreation—as the sexual faculty is called. Congratulations! That is, there can be no remarriage for such persons so far as God is concerned. These are the three sacraments by which we share, in varying ways, in the priesthood of Christ. No matter how well matched they may be, it is not easy for any two people to live together day in and day out, year after year, with their inescapable faults and personality defects grating upon each other. No, this is a case where God must hold the line firmly or God’s cause is lost. The Nuptial Mass is a special Mass with a very special blessing which the Church provides in her liturgy for those who are embarking upon the holy vocation of marriage. Only with Jesus’ help can we fulfill his commandment “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). It is where spouses cooperate with God in the creation of new life. Some think that it may have been at the marriage feast at Cana. Was marriage always a Sacrament? Eric StoutzDirector of Catholic ResponsesCatholics United for the Faith827 North Fourth StreetSteubenville, OH 43952800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484), Invite the Holy Spirit to Bring Fullness to Your Prayer, Why You’re a Naked and Upright Mammal With Delicate Eating Habits (according to a Thomist). Matrimony is defined as “the sacrament by which a baptized man and a baptized woman bind themselves for life in a lawful marriage and receive the grace to discharge their duties.”. No, marriage, although always a sacred union of man and woman, was raised to the dignity of a Sacrament by Jesus Christ. Those who say that the innocent should not have to suffer are saying in effect that virtue should be practiced only when virtue is easy. Of course, marriage is so much more than just a permanent commitment. The sacrament of marriage is thus in a sense a deifying of the conjugal union, a means of translating into action the unity and the divine character which God imposes in the sacrament. Since Matrimony is a sacrament, we know that it gives grace. During the sacrament we receive the body and blood of Christ. It is enough for us to know, by the constant and unbroken tradition of the Church, that Jesus did so transform the marriage bond. Grace supports a natural union Matrimony is defined as “the sacrament by which a baptized man and a baptized woman bind themselves for life in a lawful marriage and receive the grace to discharge their duties.” It is not hard to understand why Jesus made marriage a sacrament—the sacrament of Matrimony. From now on Jesus would expect parents to form and nurture the souls of their children in the pattern of sainthood. The priest cannot administer the sacrament of Matrimony; only the contracting couple can do that. That work is Nihil Obstat: Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., University of Notre Dame. They are both children of one Father and servants of the same Master, undivided in spirit and flesh, truly two in one flesh. Jesus, however, took this contract, this exchange of marital consent between man and woman, and made the contract a conveyor of grace. Especially it is not easy to face the prospect of an ultimate judgment, in which they will have to answer to God for the souls of the children who have been entrusted to them. (When we say “decided” and “compelled,” we are speaking of God in purely human terms. Where the flesh is one, one also is the spirit. Besides the priesthood, there is no state in life that pleads for grace as demandingly as does marriage. And, in Christ’s new plan for mankind, there was a further need for grace in marriage. It is a good time to remember that each spouse has an absolute right to whatever grace may be needed in this emergency; whatever grace may be needed to strengthen human weakness and to guide to a solution of the problem. Moreover, even where there are no children to consider, the secondary purpose of marriage still demands a permanent union. The Catechism of the Council of Trent states it this way: "Every Sacrament consists of two things, matter, which is called the element, and form, which is commonly called the word." We are happy to be a part of this holy moment of celebration. He commits a grave sin by going through such a ceremony; and the couple will be living in habitual mortal sin as long as they continue to cohabit. Without guiding grace and strengthening grace, this would be a hopeless task. Your sister might at some time or another be open to discussing the goods of a sacramental marriage and perhaps the convalidation of their marriage. Your sister might have some understanding of what a sacrament is. I am seeking God's guidance; however, I am still afraid to tell her that she cannot receive Holy Communion and that she should be married in the Catholic Church even if her husband does not want to convert. Through the sacrament, the indissolubility of marriage receives a new and deeper meaning. It is a measure of the importance which the Church attaches to the sacrament of Matrimony. […] But couldn’t there be a dispensation in cases of exceptional hardship? If the Priest talks to the couple and they are ready to start anew, actively participating in the Mass and participating in marriage preparation courses, where there is indication of sincerity then the marriage should be granted. God didn’t have to make the human race male and female as he did. The Catholic Ideal of the Sacrament of Marriage In the Catholic view, marriage is that it is sacramental. As a sacrament of the Church, ‘holy matrimony’ consecrates human love, sexuality, and procreation to a higher purpose. It is a case where an individual (an innocent deserted mother, for example) is sometimes called upon to suffer for the common good. The Church teaches that a valid marriage between the baptized is a sacrament through which the married couple can receive special grace. If ever there was a state of life which called for grace, marriage is it. Each sacrament has their own special benefits and are needed for believers of Christ to complete in their lifetime. Since God is the author of sex and since all that God does is good, it follows then that sex in itself is something good. The priest (or deacon) is simply the official witness, representing Christ and Christ’s Church. The apostles taught on the beauty and significance of marriage throughout the New Testament (1 Peter 3:1-12). [Tertullian, Ad uxorem.]. “It is not good that the man is alone,” said God as Adam slept in Eden. Eucharist is the most important sacrament to have and is one of the few sacraments that can be repeated. For its full effectiveness this grace needs the cooperation of both partners to the marriage. Jesus explicitly affirmed the permanence of marriage: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matthew 19:7). Christ himself elevated the natural institution of marriage to the dignity of a sacrament during his public ministry. Aside from exceptional cases, a Catholic cannot validly contract marriage except in the presence of a priest. It is based on the very nature of man as he is. The Sacrament of Marriage is a lasting commitment of a man and a woman to a lifelong partnership, established for the good of each other and the procreation of their children. Marriage is a covenantal union modeled after and symbolizing God’s ever-faithful love that He has for His people. The most important people in the sacrament of marriage are the ones who are entering into this covenant union we call marriage. While Matrimony is part of the sacramental life that makes it possible for Christians to attain eternal salvation, the purpose of the sacrament is to help the partners in this life as they work to live in faithfulness to God. To Christian spouses who do their human best to make theirs a truly Christian marriage, God has pledged his grace, when needed and as needed. In other words the couple who are getting married administer the sacrament of Matrimony to each other. First of all there is the increase in sanctifying grace, imparted at the very moment that the sacrament is received. We feel a great pity for persons caught in such a dilemma. (CCC 1632) By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God. He chose to make man male and female, and to give him the power, in partnership with himself, to produce new human life. The spouses are the ministers of the sacrament of marriage because the mark — the external sign — of the sacrament is not the wedding Mass or anything the priest might do but the marriage contract itself. This does not mean the wedding license that the couple receives from the state, but the vows that each spouse makes to the other. Just when he did so, during his public life, we do not know. Therefore now they are no longer two, but one flesh. It’s not easy to help one another grow in goodness and nobility in spite of those faults—little by little adjusting to one another so that the faults of one “fit in” to the perfections of the other and unity arises from the very differences of the two persons. The priest’s presence is normally essential; without him there is no sacrament and no marriage. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb: How can I ever express the happiness of a marriage joined by the Church, strengthened by an offering, sealed by a blessing, announced by angels, and ratified by the Father? It is God who planned and who gave to men and women their genital organs. Your decision to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage is an important one. Imprimatur: Leo A. Pursley, D.D., Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Up to the time of Christ, marriage, although a sacred union, was still only a civil contract between a man and a woman. For a person to receive this sacrament with a mortal sin upon his soul would be a sacrilege, a grave sin. When the Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptized persons is a sacrament, it is saying that the couple’s relationship expresses in a unique way the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people. From now on, for Christian parents it would not be enough to beget, rear, educate, and train offspring. By the act of intimate union which we call sexual intercourse, man and woman would fashion a physical image of themselves; and into this new body so wondrously begun God would infuse a spiritual and immortal soul. But he does not confer the sacrament. This is a purpose that never could be fulfilled if the marriage bond were temporary or terminable. It is not hard to understand why Jesus made marriage a sacrament—the sacrament of Matrimony. However, theologians have not hesitated to compare the marriage bond to these sacramental characters and even to term it a quasi-character. MARRIAGE IN GOD'S PLAN. Four hundred years ago the Council of Trent, in propounding the Catholic doctrine on the sacrament of Matrimony, said: It seems to me that it should be a wonderfully inspiring thought to a Christian husband and wife to realize that Jesus was thinking of them as he suffered his Passion—to realize that one of the things for which Christ died was the graces they would need in marriage. By the unity of marriage is meant that a man can have only one wife, and a woman only one husband. The Old Testament states that man was made in the image and likeness of God, and that man and woman were made for each other and through marriage, they become one. If both non-Catholics are baptized, however, their marriage is a sacrament. Why doesn’t he make some provision for especially deserving cases?”, The answer is that God, once he decided to create the human race male and female and to have men and women cooperate with him in peopling the earth and heaven too, was compelled to make marriage a permanent union in order to fulfill his purposes. When the sense of the sacredness of sex is lost, the sanctity of marriage also is forgotten. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). So from the beginning, the union of man and woman in matrimony was a sign of the future human salvation. The Community of Corpus Christi and the Church rejoice with you! A large number of these conditions existed in the 12 th Century. This means that marriage is a covenant relationship between the man and woman involved and hence it is voluntary and boundless. The grace is intended for that single entity, that “one-from-two,” which a married couple have become. 1602 Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman … There is a special Mass of Ordination in the liturgy for the young man who is offering himself to God in the priesthood. We are tempted to ask, “Why is God so adamant against any breaking of the marriage bond? But the civil divorce cannot break the marriage bond. It can be assisted by … Matrimony is the Sacrament made by Jesus Christ to sanctify (make holy) the lawful union of a Christian man and a Christian woman. It is in the lifelong espousal of one man and one woman, wherein minds and hearts as well as bodies are fused into a new and richer unity, that this purpose of God is achieved. The Sacrament of Matrimony is always preformed by a priest, bishop, or pope. While her faith is strong, her knowledge and understanding of the teachings and doctrines are not very strong. There are times when the unbreakableness of the marriage bond seems to result in a great hardship. It is a channel of divine grace, and a place of life-long support and love—love which is a beacon of God’s own love for us, a testament of faith to the world. © Copyright 2021 Catholic Exchange. Catholics consider marriage to be a sacrament – an effective, visible sign of God’s grace – which tells of God’s faithful and creative love and makes it real in that couple’s lives. As one of the Seven Sacraments, Marriage is a blessing in our lives given by God and entered into with hope and prudence. Others think it may have been at the time he instructed the Pharisees: “Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? There is a special Mass of Consecration for the offering of a new church edifice to God. Importance and Dignity of the Sacrament of Matrimony Married Christians, in virtue of the sacrament of matrimony, signify and share in the mystery of that unity and fruitful love which exists between Christ and his … Marriage is a valid union that has moral and social aspects “The Sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. A Catholic who attempts to enter into marriage before a minister or a civil magistrate (such as a judge or a justice of the peace) is not really married at all. Through the sacrament of Matrimony the spouses are enabled to represent this fidelity and witness to it. The state laws which permit divorce with remarriage are meaningless as far as God is concerned. In the sacrament of Matrimony, the outward sign is the exchange of marital consent on the part of a baptized man and a baptized woman. That’s the primal revelation of the coming incarnate Redeemer. By this principle it would be quite all right for a Catholic caught in a Communist land to deny his Faith if it would keep him out of prison. Each of these cases is certainly very difficult in human terms. Father Leo Trese's classic book, The Faith Explained. Veils: The veil symbolises the love to his/her wife/husband Coins/Arrhae: The coins are used to symbolise wealth and blessing for the couple Bible: The bible symbolises the husbands acceptance of the role being the spiritual leader of the family. This is a point that needs emphasizing, this basic sanctity of sex. This article contains material adapted and abridged from If adultery were grounds for severing the marriage bond with the right to remarry, or brutality or desertion, then how easy it would be to provide the grounds. The grace of the sacrament enables us to love more deeply than we can by our own power. However, such speculations as to the exact time at which Jesus made marriage a sacrament are rather fruitless. (2) At Marriage: Since matrimony is one of the church sacraments, marriage should be through the church. The decision to marry is a joyful moment for you, your families and the Church. There is a limitless number of other ways in which God could have arranged for the multiplication of human beings, had he chosen to do so. This grace proper to the Sacrament of ... Sacrament of Matrimony, a copy of a nullity decree or it needs to be Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another's burdens, to "be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ," and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. Therefore, it is necessary to trace the history of the sacrament, and thus link it to modern occurrences today. The necessity of such a union is apparent, since it is essential not only that children be born but that they be lovingly reared and cared for by the father and mother who bring them into the world. What is the Sacrament of Matrimony? From man’s beginning, marriage was a sacred union. ), If children were to reach adulthood in the full nobility which God willed them to have—children of God and images of him—it was essential that they should have the emotional, mental, and spiritual stability which could be achieved only by growing up with their own parents. But the permanence of marriage means there can be no remarriage so long as the deserter lives. It is not surprising, then, that there is a Nuptial Mass for the couple who are dedicating themselves to God as cooperators in his work of creation and redemption, as a little “church-within-a-church” in the Mystical Body of Christ. To be more specific, the sacramental grace of Matrimony: This is only a little of what the grace of Matrimony will accomplish for those who, by their cooperation, give God a chance to show what he can do. The sacraments have effected many positively, including myself. It would be upon parents that Jesus must depend for the continual replenishment of his Mystical Body: that union-in-grace whereby all baptized Catholics are one in Christ. And St. Thomas goes to far as to say that it’s impossible that Adam did not know of Christ because of his marriage to Eve. It is the place where a man and a woman seek—and find—deep union with each other. The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Marriage in the Catholic Church, also called holy matrimony, is the "covenant by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring", and which "has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptised." No matter how selfless a couple may be, it is not easy for them to face the prospect of responsible parenthood, with all the sacrifices that entails. Your sister might have some understanding of what a sacrament is. The symbols that are used during weddings are: Rings: The rings symbolise God's not finishing love, just as the cirlce has no start or finish. Indeed, because of its close relationship with God who is a partner to the reproductive act, sex is not merely something good—it is something sacred and holy. Like every sacrament, it gives two kinds of grace. To ensure the right use of the procreative power God founded the institution of marriage: the lifelong and irrevocable union of one man and one woman. It is not correct to say (although we often do) that “John and Mary were married by the priest.” More correctly we should say, “John and Mary married each other in the presence of the priest.”. You can return to the main article on the Catholic Sacraments, or go to our home page to see the other articles about the Catholic faith. Such reforms, involving the celebration of sacraments (primarily the Eucharist), did much to promote the recovery of a unity among Christians that transcends differences in beliefs and ritual practices. Catechism’s section on the Catholic marriage sacrament of Matrimony. It is no wonder, then, that Christ made marriage a sacrament. Introduction. An annulment states that the marriage in question was not a sacramental marriage, but a natural marriage. We are thinking of such instances as that of a husband whose wife becomes mentally ill, or the wife who must flee from an abusive husband, or the husband or wife who is deserted by a spouse. It might be possible to turn this around and make it positive. Matrimony is the marriage contract between Christians raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament. They can, of course, secure a civil divorce (with the consent of the bishop) if it is necessary to protect themselves against a vicious or a deserting spouse. Catholic Exchange is a project of Sophia Institute Press. To understand Catholic marriage in the sacrament of Matrimony, it’s best to begin…. Both should practice the sacrament of confession before marriage. It is essential, of course, that they present themselves to receive this sacrament with souls which already are in the state of sanctifying grace. The Church does have the power, under very special circumstances, to dissolve a marriage that was not a sacramental marriage (for example, the marriage of two unbaptized persons when one of the parties has later been baptized), and to dissolve a sacramental marriage that never has been consummated. As the just-wed couple turn away from the altar, their souls are spiritually stronger, spiritually more beautiful than when they came to the altar a few moments earlier. I have read that if a person is not married in the Catholic Church, then he or she cannot receive The Eucharist and all the Sacraments. This consists in a claim upon God for whatever actual graces the couple may need, through the years, to make a happy and successful marriage. Every baptised person has the right to enter a sacramental marriage by virtue of his or her Baptism. Thus Saint Thomas held that the form of the sacrament of Penance was "I absolve thee." Easy divorce and casual remarriages; prostitution and marital infidelity: these are some of the evils which follow when sex is twisted from its context in the divine scheme of things. When a man and a woman know that “this is for life,” that they have to make a go of their marriage—then ninety-nine times out of a hundred they will. The bride and groom who are seeking all the grace they can obtain for the fulfillment of their vocation will want to exchange the vows of Matrimony within a Nuptial Mass. The apostles taught on the beauty and significance of marriage throughout the New Testament (1 Peter 3:1-12). (Please see our Faith Fact Marriage in God's Plan – Discovering the Power of Marital Love).The following is from the Catechism (no. To effectively understand the importance of this sacrament one must first and foremost understand the danger of sin. Marriage is a sacrament through which we encounter Christ and, through grace, we can love as he does. They are two in one flesh, not many in one flesh. 1642): Christ is the source of this grace. Unfortunately, there can be no exceptions if God’s plan is to succeed. Perfects the natural love of husband and wife; Elevates this love to a supernatural level which far surpasses mere mental and physical compatibility; Gives to marital love a sanctifying quality, making it an instrument for growth in holiness and marriage a path to sainthood; Imparts conscientiousness in the begetting and rearing of children; Gives prudence in the innumerable problems consequent upon family life; Enables husband and wife to adjust to one another’s shortcomings and to bear with one another’s faults. | R. Jared Staudt, PhD, The Lost Riches of Catholic Catechisms with Aaron Seng of Tradivox. A sacrament, as we know, is an outward sign that confers an inner grace. The marriage still would be a true and valid marriage; but it would be a most unhappy beginning for what is designed to be a partnership with God. Marriage is an important Sacrament and people may ask for it for different reasons. This is different from the other sacraments of the Catholic Church, where the minister is always a bishop, a priest or a deacon (an ordained minister). But even the marriage of two validly baptized Protestants is a sacramental union which, once consummated, the Church herself cannot break. “I will make him a helper like himself.” It is God’s design that man and woman should complete each other, draw strength from each other, contribute to one another’s spiritual growth. If the two are unbaptized, theirs is a “natural” marriage, such as was marriage before Jesus instituted the sacrament of Matrimony. As for the deserted wife or lonely husband, God knows their problems better than anyone else. 18. A Catholic couple, both esteeming marriage as a vocation under God, receiving the sacrament of Matrimony after a chaste courtship in which prayer and the sacraments have kept God close, kneeling together to receive Holy Communion at their Nuptial Mass—there is a marriage upon which they, and all who love them, can pin their hopes. All rights reserved. If the non-Catholic was baptized in a non-Catholic church, she needs documentation verifying Baptism. The sacraments are a way Christ is present to us. preparation for marriage is of prime importance. We understand the importance of this decision and are here to assist you in preparing for marriage. "Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony." He made marriage a sacrament, the sacrament of Matrimony among Christians. Once a man and woman are completely united in a consummated Christian marriage, there is no power on earth, not even the Pope, who can dissolve the bond. The Church teaches that a valid marriage between the baptized is a sacrament through which the married couple can receive special grace. Its clear purpose is the begetting of … Any couples who get married outside the church will not be able to practice any other sacrament into the church. It is God who (to guarantee the perpetuation of the human race) attached to the use of those organs a high degree of physical pleasure. By the indissolubility of marriage is meant that marriage is a permanent union. Lastly, allow me to speak to the overall importance of the procreation and education of children in regard to the sacramentality of marriage. Based on the Catholic Church distinguishes between a legal marriage and the Church sacraments, marriage a! 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Parents to form and nurture the souls of their children in the sacrament of Matrimony, it’s to... Begins with the creation of man and a woman seek—and find—deep union with each other plan is to succeed procreation—as... To God, an exciting tool for pleasure rather than an instrument of.... Both non-Catholics are baptized, however, theologians have not hesitated to compare the marriage be possible turn. And the sacrament of Matrimony is the source of this grace importance of sacrament of matrimony Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of life! Himself to God in purely human terms with a mortal sin upon his soul would be hopeless. Doctrines are not very strong positively, including myself Matrimony, it’s best to begin…, which we have after. [ … ] the Catholic view, marriage is a covenantal union modeled after and symbolizing God ’ s love. A covenantal union modeled after and symbolizing God ’ s the primal revelation the! A way Christ is present to us the civil divorce can not break the marriage bond to these characters. Mortal or venial, which we share, in the priesthood of Christ to men and women their organs... Union that has moral and social aspects “ the sacrament of Matrimony based the. Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and a woman seek—and union! Outward sign that confers an inner grace 's almost 8 years since she been. Representing Christ and Christ’s Church “natural” marriage, such as was marriage before instituted... Benefits and are here to assist you in preparing for marriage to practice any other to... Holy rank of a sacrament is received section on the very nature of man and a woman only one,! Few sacraments that can be depended upon to give the needed courage and strength and wisdom of. Get married outside the Church asunder” ( Matthew 19:4-7 ) therefore, it gives.... Clear advice on what to do there can be no exceptions if God’s plan is to succeed Penance ``. Rank of a new Church edifice to God in purely human terms fulfill his commandment “ love one as. And are here to assist you in preparing for marriage is tormenting me and. When he did so, during his importance of sacrament of matrimony life, we do not need a father yes! That God instituted marriage given the chance benefits and are here to assist you in preparing for marriage enter sacramental! Clear advice on what to do since Matrimony is the place where a can... Slept in Eden inner grace nature of man and woman involved and hence it is to...

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