Marriage as a Sacred
Institution
Kori da Silva Marques
What has happened?
Cont…
Cohabitation Statistics
53% 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 commitment
Desire to avoid divorce
Want to test out the relationship
Reject 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 Marriages
Are disposable
Lack honor
Do not stand the test of time
No longer a process
All about the glitz and glamour
Decrease in Marriage
Marriage as a Covenant
Covenant in the Old Testament
God chooses Abraham to be father of a Great Nation
(God’s covenant with Israel)
Hosea and Gomer
Hosea
Gomer
Husband
Wife
Yahweh
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 better
Brings about authentic love.
Solo
Counter point
Intimacy
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 Aquinas
Love 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:
Liquefactio
Delectio Fruito
Langor
Fervor
A Sacred Marriage Offers…
Friendship
Ecstasy
Passion
Pleasure
Conjugal Love is…
Human
Gentle Affection
Whole of Life
Uniquely Expressed
Equal Dignity
Available
Sensitive to Change
Loyal, 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 contract
1930 Pope Pius, love is a means to reach perfection.
Vatican II removes the 2 adjectives, neither is more
important than the other.
Essentially…
God
Emotionally
Spiritually
Physically
Husband
Wife
Marriage should be exciting
Marriage is an adventure