The Vocation of Marriage

ReflectionReflect on these questions in your notes.What are the top 5 qualities of a good marriage?Statistics say that 50% of marriages end in

divorce. Why is this, in your opinion?Who is the happiest married

couple you know? How do you know they are happy? How do they express their love?

In your notes, make 2 columns:

Good Reasons Not-so-good

To get Reasons to get

Married Married

Homework – Due Thursday 5/6

Interview a married couple (husband AND wife, if you can).

Ask these questions, and add 2 of your own. Type up the questions and answers. Conclude with a reflection on the answers you received and what they taught you about Marriage.

QuestionsHow did you and your spouse meet? How did you know

you wanted to get married?

What is the best part of being married? What is the most challenging part of being married?

Was anything different than you expected it to be?

What role does God play in your marriage?

If you have children, what effect have they had on your marriage?

What advice would you give to young people thinking about marriage?

Marriage in Scripture

Read the following passages and summarize in your notes:

Genesis 2: 18-24

Malachi 2: 13-16

Matthew 19:6

Hebrews 13: 4

Genesis 2: 18-24

Men and women are equal.

In marriage, 2 become 1.

Malachi 2: 13-16

Spouses must be faithful to each other.

Matthew 19:6

Again, 2 become 1 in marriage.

Marriage changes a person.

Marriage is FOREVER.

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage should be honored and respected.

Be faithful to your spouse.

A person will be judged by God on how she/he acts within marriage.

Requirements for Marriage

State of PA Requirements At least 18 (16-18, with parental consent) 3 day waiting period Freedom to marry – no bigamy (married to

more than 1 person) Blood relatives down to and including 1st

cousins may not marry in PA May not be intoxicated or under influence

of drugs when applying Fee

Church Requirements

In addition to the State of PA’s requirements . . .

Baptized Christians (must be baptized to receive sacraments)

View marriage as a pledge of unconditional forever love

Intent that marriage is permanent

Open to children

Marriage preparation (Pre-Cana)

The Covenant of Marriage

Marriage is a sacred, solemn covenant, like the covenant that God has made with us through His covenant with the Hebrews, in which he promised to never leave us.

The love of a married couple is to reflect the love that God has for us – lasting, faithful, and complete.

The love that the couple shares comes from God – this makes it more than just a legal contract.

The Meaning of Marriage as a Sacrament

A Sacrament is a visible sign of God’s presence (grace) in our lives. In marriage, one’s spouse is the sign of God’s presence in their lives.

The Sacrament of Marriage is actually administered by the couple – the priest is simply the presider.

The Priest and the Wedding Party (particularly the Best Man and Maid of Honor) act as witnesses.

Characteristics of a Sacramental Marriage

There are 3 characteristics of a Sacramental Marriage.

Permanent Commitment: the couple acknowledges that this commitment is for life.

Openness to Children: Procreation (having children) is a natural result of married love. The Church values the family, calling children the “supreme gift of marriage” in its Catechism.

This characteristic focuses on an openness to children. Certainly, a couple who is unable to have children is valued and recognized by the Church.

Loving Fidelity: The Church teaches that a successful marriage (and family) demands TOTAL FIDELITY (faithfulness) from the spouses.

The Church recognizes the difficulty of this kind of fidelity and encourages married people to find support in each other and in their faith.

The Marriage Ceremony

The Marriage Ceremony usually takes place

within a Nuptial Mass. It occurs after the homily. The couple is asked if they have come freely to be married, if they will love each other forever, and if they will be open to children. (The 3 Characteristics) Then, they say their vows to each other. Finally, they exchange rings.

Marriage VowsThe couple vow their commitment to each

other in words similar to these:

“I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.

I will love you and honor you

all the days of my life.”

Unitive & Procreative Aspects of Sexuality in Marriage

A sexual relationship in marriage has 2 purposes:

1 - strengthens the couple and allows them to express their love for each other in

a powerful way (unitive)

2 - leads to the creation of new life. (procreative)

Humanae Vitae- Humanae Vitae is an encyclical (a

letter to the Church from the Pope) written by Pope Paul VI in 1968.

What was the world (particularly the US) like in 1968?

- part of the Church’s attempts to address a culture that did not seem to be respecting life and responsibility in a variety of ways.

- called Catholics to a greater understanding of the Church’s position against artificial contraception (birth control).

- begins with the Church’s understanding that couples often need to limit the number of children they have in their family.

- also says that sex between a married couple is sacred and good in the eyes of the church, even if it will not lead to procreation (a baby).

- HOWEVER, the Church does believe that sex between a husband and wife “retains its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life.”

What does this mean?

- Because of this connection between sex and life, the “direct interruption of the generative process” is against what the Church teaches.

- “Direct interruption of the generative process” = Artificial Birth Control (chemical and barrier methods), as well as

abortion and sterilization.

In the Encyclical, Pope Paul VI expresses concern about:

a “general lowering of moral standards” that can come from sex without consequences

and

the danger that women could be reduced to “being instruments for the satisfaction of desires,” rather than be treated with the respect that they deserve.

Pope Paul VI acknowledged that he knows that this teaching might not be easily accepted. Regardless, he believed that the Church can not say that something is OK if it truly goes against what the Church teaches and believes.

Natural Family Planning (NFP)

This way of regulating how many children a couple has is accepted by the Catholic Church because it is NATURAL.

NFP involves abstaining from intercourse during the times in a woman’s menstrual cycle when she can become pregnant.

This involves careful attention to the woman’s body, as well as clear and honest communication between husband and wife.

The Church’s Teaching on Divorce and Annulment

88thth Period – Annulment Period – Annulment HWHW

Use this website to answer the following questions:www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/

ac1002.asp

• What is an annulment? Why/when is it necessary?

• In what kinds of situations are annulments

granted? • How is money involved in an annulment?