CHRISTIAN DIMENSIONS OF MARRIAGE  Governed by God

[CCSC]  Marriage as a covenant

o Fruitful relationship
MARRIAGE  With accountability
 communion of life and love:  With freedom of choice
 With rationality
o UNITIVE - purpose of their
own good; mutual giving of (based on choices, not
self feelings)
o PROCREATIVE - procreation  In Bible: “relationship
and education of children between God and
man; unconditional
o Symbol of Jesus’ divine love
love of God (&
 Marriage as a contract
promise of salvation)
o Contract: agreement of
for them”
parties based on rights and
o Love as factor and soul of
protection; governed by law
marriage
 Same-sex marriage
o Children are the “crowning
depends on the rules
glory” or fruits of marriage
of the state?
o Properties:
o Marriage as not only private
 Unity/Exclusiveness
affair but social institution
 Indissolubility/Perman
o Free will (mutual consent)
ence
 “I take you to be my
 Fertility
wife/husband”
 Obstacles [DFE]:
CONTRACT COVENANT
 Decision-making
o Lack of “I’ll meet you “I’ll give you
reason halfway.” 100% plus.”
o Lack of
judgment/ign “I have to.” “I love to.”
orance of
purpose “What do I “What can I
o Psychologica get?” give?”
l condition
o Error/Fraud
 Marriage as a sacrament
(Wrong
o Unbreakable bond of love
Impression
between Christ and His men
of Person)
o Christ in the center of
 Freedom
relationship
o Force
o Has grace – God’s guidance
o Blackmail/Fea
on relationships and their
r
duties (compassion,
 Expression
faithfulness)
o Marriage as a natural
institution
 o Sacrament: express visibly
what God is doing invisibly
o Properties:
 As sign and symbol
 As sign of Christ’s
presence
 As saving grace
 Marriage as a celebration and
vocation
o Celebration – wedding
ceremony with liturgical form
held in the Church
 Venue is Church since
it symbolizes
commitment to God
and the Christian
community/Church
o Vocation – gift and a mission;
call to parenthood
MARRIAGE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
 Bad practices that reflected the
effects of original sin
o Men interfered with the
world’s harmony
 Procreation > Covenant Union
 The practices done during this time
were carried over to the present
 Unity of man and woman became
domination and lust
 Practices [SARAPPH]
o Seduction
o Abortion
o Rape
o Adultery
o Polygamy/prostitution
o Homosexuality
o Patriarchy
 Women: housewives;
baby makers
 Male child > Female
child
 Husbands can only
initiate divorce
 Levirate marriage:
deceased husband’s
brother will marry
widow
MARRIAGE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
 Divorce – not accepted in the NT
since only God can separate what
He has joined together
 Don’t deprive man of woman and
vice versa
 Sexual act
o Right of husband and wife
o Later thought to be “marital
debt” with mutual consent
MAN’S ORIGINAL VOCATION
 Origin of creation: Man is created
in God’s image, which makes it
unique and submissive to God, and
shall use God’s creation to fulfill his
calling: to love
 All vocations must strive to achieve
perfection and find unity amidst
diversity, all called to a life of
holiness
 Types of Vocation
o Celibacy
 Priesthood
 Religious life
o Single blessedness
o Married life
 Stability
 Security
 Fulfillment
FAMILY AS A DOMESTIC CHURCH
 Emphasizes the family’s
participation in the Church or in
community programs
 Carry out duties of familial and
communal nature of church; bearers
of Gospel
 Parents must encourage their
children to fulfill their own vocations
and in worshipping God through
Youth Ministry
 Families are strengthened by
continuous prayers to God,
sacraments of Eucharist and
Reconciliation
 Family must achieve the 3 functions
of Christ
o Prophetic
o Priestly
o Kingly