The Permanency of Marriage

1. The Permanency of Marriage pp. 320-328

2. The Permanency of Marriage in the Catholic Church – Indissolubility • A valid and sacramental marriage is permanent and indissoluble (only dissolved by death) • “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” • “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

3. The Permanency of Marriage in the Catholic Church - Annulments • When a couple does not fulfill the conditions of marriage a sacramental marriage never took place. • Annulments don’t dissolve a marriage but rather provide a recourse through the diocese to have the sacramental marriage declared invalid by a bishop or a marriage tribunal. • As part of the process, the couple would need to seek a divorce to dissolve their civil marriage.

4. The Permanency of Marriage in the Catholic Church – Separation and Divorce • If a couple decides to separate, they are not prohibited from receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist. • The Sacramental marriage is still considered to be valid though, so they are not able to re-marry unless they obtain an annulment.

5. The Permanency of Marriage in the Catholic Church – Divorce and Remarriage • Catholics who have received a civil divorce but have not received an annulment from the diocese may not marry again. • If they were to remarry in front of a judge or another religious leader, the new marriage would be considered invalid by our church, as the previous marriage is still valid. • They can still participate in church activities but may not receive Holy Communion.

6. Marriage as a Sacrament • Since the Council of Trent in 1563, the Church considered marriage a sacramental act (source of sanctifying grace and a sign of salvation through Christ) • For Catholics, marriage is about 2 people entering a sacred history that began at baptism. The married couple becomes a community of faith and love.

7. Love is a gift from one person to another and maturity arises from this offering of unselfish love. • The couple becomes what is asked of each of them and they help each other to be all that they can be in the eyes of God. • Marriage is also an experience of faith that continually calls for trust and commitment.

8. The Sacramental Sign of Marriage • Married life is a journey of communion and love that leads to union with God and eternal life. • The bond itself is a covenant much like the covenant between God and Israel or Christ and the Church. • The family that arises is an even stronger sign of God. Husband and wife are transformed by their relationship with their child who completes their union.

9. Conditions for a truly human and sacramental love Freedom – partners must choose each other freely and choose to answer God’s call to the sacrament freely. Fidelity – partners must help each other to remain faithful in their love. Permanence – marriage is for life. It is not based on emotions as emotions change. It is not based on will or a test of willpower. It is based on faith and promise. Fruitfulness- the desire for and acceptance of children.

10. Marriage and the mystery of Christ • Marriage is an efficacious sign of the sacrament of Christ and the Church. • The marriage of 2 baptized people takes place during Eucharistic celebration – marriage is joined to Christ’ death and resurrection. • The couple are the ministers of grace in this sacrament. They confer the sacrament on one another.

11. The priest or bishop is a witness to the mutual consent between the couple and represent the community of the Church. • To complete consent, in the Eastern Church, a blessing is given which makes the marriage valid. • In the Latin Church a prayer invoking the Holy Spirit is said and the marriage is completed with the consummation of the marriage.