Marriage as a Sacred Institution

Kori da Silva Marques

What has happened?

Cont…

Cohabitation Statistics53% of first cohabiting unions result in marriage.People with low levels of religious participation and who rate religion of low importance are more likely to cohabit and less likely to marry.Marriage no longer signifies the beginning of sexual relationships,the beginning of childbearing or the point in which couples establish joint households.

Why do People Cohabit?Fear or disbelief in long-term commitmentDesire to avoid divorceWant to test out the relationshipReject the institution of Marriage and this is an alternative.

What we have bought in to.

Germaine Greer The Female Eunuch

Sex has become recreational: we have given into the “almighty orgasm”Procreative power loss: given into the use of contraception.Children and pleasure: women have become much more attached to the male rather than the children.

Today’s MarriagesAre disposableLack honorDo not stand the test of timeNo longer a processAll about the glitz and glamour

Decrease in Marriage

Marriage as a CovenantCovenant in the Old Testament

God chooses Abraham to be father of a Great Nation (God’s covenant with Israel)Hosea and Gomer

Hosea Husband Yahweh

Gomer Wife Israel

So, what’s so cool about marriage?

Brings about the fullness of creation. We are creative beings through our counter parts. We get married to “save the world” by preserving humanity. Helps one get to know themselves betterBrings about authentic love.

SoloCounter pointIntimacy

Solitude and Self- Disclosure

Sydney Jouard:“Perhaps the most important reason for

self-disclosure is that without it we cannot truly love. “ –The Transparent Self.

Erich Fromm:“The ability to be alone is the condition

for the ability to love” – The Ability To Love.

The Catechism says…The consent by which the spouses mutually give and receive one another is sealed by God himself. From their covenant arises, “an institution, confirmed by the divine law,…even in the eyes of society.” The covenant between the spouses is integrated into God’s covenant with man: “Authentic married love is caught up into divine love” 1639

St. Thomas AquinasLove and Charity – teleous by which we can be united with God through human love.Conjugal Love: First movement of the will. Eternal bond between man and woman. Expressed through matrimony.Facets of Love:

LiquefactioDelectio FruitoLangorFervor

A Sacred Marriage Offers…

FriendshipEcstasyPassionPleasure

Conjugal Love is…HumanGentle AffectionWhole of LifeUniquely ExpressedEqual DignityAvailableSensitive to ChangeLoyal, Service, Obedience (Must be mutual)Forgiving

Did you know…Up until the 16th century love had nothing to do with marriage. 2 Adjectives for marriage:

Primary (Procreation) & Secondary (Love)1917 Marriage is a contract1930 Pope Pius, love is a means to reach perfection.Vatican II removes the 2 adjectives, neither is more important than the other.

Essentially…

God

Husband

Emotionally

SpirituallyPhysically

Wife

Marriage should be exciting

Marriage is an adventure