International Catholic University
I. Introductory Concepts
A. Marriage & the basic Christian vocation to love
1. "The entire Christian life bears the mark of the spousal love of Christ and the Church." CCC 1617
2. baptism as nuptial bath, Eucharist as wedding feast.
3. To love is the "fundamental and innate vocation of every human being" since he or she is made in image of God. GS 24 cited in CCC 1604 & FC 11.
4. "After the fall, marriage helps to overcome self-absorption, egoism, pursuit of one's own pleasure, and to open oneself to the other, to mutual aid and to self-giving." CCC 1609
5. "Esteem of virginity for the sake of the kingdom and the Christian understanding of marriage are inseparable" CCC 1620
B. Ministers of sacrament:
1. In Eastern churches, the priest.
2. the spouses in the Latin tradition; In Latin Church, priest or deacon normally presides (CIC 1108) but lay person can be delegated by bishop in certain regions (CIC 1112)
C. Church's authority over marriage: Leo XIII, CF #1821
II. The Three Goods of marriage (Augustine, St. Thomas & Council Florence CF #1803)
A. Begetting and education of children
1. the Lord uses spouses as ministers in the propagation of life and in education to the worship of God in the Catholic Church Casti Connubii CF #1826
2. Rite 4: children the most precious gift of marriage
3. family as "domestic church" LG 8, CCC 1655
4. parents primary educators GE 3, GS 52,1; CCC 1653
a. training in prayer, evangelization, apostolic service
b. religious & moral education
5. Catholic parenthood a canonical office, likened to the pastoral responsibility of a priest in FC 38. FC 37-9 makes clear that it is a "true ministry of the Church."
B. Partnership: fidelity of spouses to each other
1. "persevering endeavor to bring each other to the state of perfection. . . . a complete and intimate life-partnership." Pius XI, Casti Connubii, in CF 1829.
2. "The Spirit which the Lord pours forth gives a new heart, and renders man and woman capable of loving one another as Christ has loved us. Conjugal love reaches that fullness to which it is interiorly ordained, conjugal charity, which is the proper and specific way in which the spouses participate in and are called to live the very charity of Christ, who gave himself on the cross." FC 13.
C. The sacramental bond itself signifying Christ & the Church.
1. A cause of grace. CF 1830, FC 13.
2. bond of marriage a symbol of the covenant which unites God and his people. God is ever-faithful, so married love must be too. FC 12.
3. marriage is a memorial, actuation & prophecy of the salvation event. . . . a permanent reminder to the church of what happened on the cross. FC 13.
III. Effect & Fruits (Res) of the Sacrament CCC 1496
A. Main effect:
1. elevation (supernaturalization) of the natural conjugal bond so as to make it a permanent (until death) symbol of the union between Christ and his church. FC 13
2. the Lord wishes it to be continuously visible and should be made so as much as possible.
3. for the good of the offspring and for perfection of spouses.
B. Effects of sacramental grace
1. increase of habitual grace, healing the wounds of sin impeding conjugal union
2. foundation & title of actual graces appropriate to married state
3. modification of infused virtues needed to lead a common life; radical elevation and reordering of natural inclinations (including sexual attraction) to the supernatural virtues
4. life of virtue that manifests the bond of union that exists between Christ and His Church
5. provides a setting for children to develop to their full capacity for loving naturally & supernaturally
IV. Indissolubility and nullity
A. What Makes the Indissoluble sacramental bond
1. exchange of free, informed consent of 2 baptized people who are capable & free to marry. CCC 1625-8. Presupposes that both:
a. intend exclusivity, faithfulness
b. are open to children
2. action, outpouring of HS C 1624, 1639; sealed by God himself. Implicit epiclesis.
B. Degrees of indissolubility: church can dissolve 1st 2 but not 3rd
1. Natural (non-sacramental) & valid bond(at least 1 unbaptized)
a. "Pauline privilege": if unbaptized spouse wants out of the marriage after other spouse is baptized, the baptized spouse free to remarry. 1 Cor 7:15
2. Sacramental but not consummated
3. Sacramental & consummated (CCC 1640)
C. Reasons for judgment of nullity (annulment)
1. Defect of canonical form (for Catholics only: see CCC 1630-1)
2. Lack of informed, mature, free consent
3. Physical or psychological incapacity (impotence not infertility)
4. "Find the balance between the inescapable duty to defend the indissolubility of marriage and the due attention to the complex human reality of the concrete case." JP II, (1984, speech to the Roman Rota) CF #1845.
5. true bond assumed to exist till proven otherwise; automatic appeal
6. Convalidation: Church "blessing" an irregular marriage
D. Special cases
1. Mixed marriages (Catholic marrying baptized non-Catholic) require special permission; usually not done in context of Eucharist--intercommunion problem. Rite 8; CIC 1124; CCC 1633
2. Disparity of cult: (one unbaptized spouse) requires dispensation CCC 1633
V. Some Pastoral Suggestions
A. Remote preparation: clear & unambiguous teaching for singles: marriage, family, morality
B. Proximate preparation: education and real personal relationship with mature Christian couples; potential for deacons & spouses. Mentoring.
C. Follow-up: pastoral care and education, relations of husband and wife, child-rearing & religious formation
D. Enough understanding of nullity to counsel those divorced or separated
E. Divorced & remarried: not separated from church (excommunicated) but cannot receive eucharist. Urge practice of spiritual communion. CCC 1665.
F. Husband as head of wife (and family):
1. sacramental & practical reasons (Eph 5:22-29).
2. Emphasis on spiritual responsibility, pastoral care.
3. Not inconsistent with equal personal dignity (CCC 1645) or partnership, collegiality.
4. Collegiality balanced with personal responsibility of a leader within every other unit of the church.
5. Not discussed in recent magisterial teaching