The sacrament of marriage 36 CHAMPAIGNE, Philippe de The Marriage of the Virgin c Oil on panel, 71,5 x 143,5 cm Wallace Collection, London

Compendium of the Catechism 338. For what ends has God instituted Matrimony? The marital union of man and woman, which is founded and endowed with its own proper laws by the Creator, is by its very nature ordered to the communion and good of the couple and to the generation and education of children. According to the original divine plan this conjugal union is indissoluble, as Jesus Christ affirmed: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Mark 10:9).

Introduction The way parents love their children, and the way they care for each other, makes us think of the greatness of the sacrament of marriage. Do we properly thank our parents for all they do for us? Do we help them when in need? Do we try to make them happy? Do we pray for them every day? DAVID, Gerard The Marriage at Cana c Oil on wood, 100 x 128 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris

Main ideas

1. The institution of marriage in the Garden of Eden "God created them male and female. He blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth’”(Genesis 1:27-28). This is the institution of marriage:  its main purpose consists in having children and educating them ;  Its secondary purpose is the mutual help of the spouses: "It is not right that the man should be alone. I shall make him a helper" (Genesis 2:18). Therefore, marriage is something sacred by nature, and the spouses are God’s co-operators: they participate in God’s power to give life. BOUCICAUT Master The marriage of Adam and Eve from 'Des Proprietes De Chozes‘ c.1415 Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK

2. Marriage is a Christian sacrament Jesus Christ raised marriage, instituted at the beginning of humanity, to the dignity of a sacrament. Marriage between Christians is an image of the union between Christ and His spouse, the Church. Thus, Catholics cannot marry by means of so-called “civil marriage”, because it is only a legal ceremony before the State. Among Catholics, marriage is only valid when contracted within the Church. MYUNG-BO SIM St. Patrick's Cathedral 1990 New York, Private Collection

3. The properties of marriage Unity means that marriage is the union between one man and only one woman: “A man shall leave his father and mother and become attached to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Indissolubility means that the marital bond can never be dissolved: “What God has united, human beings must not divide” as is written in the Gospel (Matthew 19,6; 5,32). Divorce therefore is prohibited.  God wanted it that way for several reasons: for the good of the children and for the good and happiness of the spouses; It is also a good for the whole human society, because humanity is made up of families. ALMA – TADERNA, Sir Lawrence The honeymoon Private collection

4. The effects of the sacrament of marriage Marriage increases the sanctifying grace in those who marry. It has to be received in the state of grace; if not, even though the marriage is valid, it becomes a sacrilege. Marriage also confers on the spouses the help necessary to sanctify themselves in married life, to educate their children and to carry out their other marital duties.  concerning each other: to love and respect each other, to be faithful to each other and to help each other mutually;  concerning their children: to feed them, to clothe them, to educate them religiously, morally and intellectually, and to provide for their future. The contracting parties are themselves the ministers of the sacrament; however, marriage ought to be celebrated before witnesses and in the presence of the parish priest or his delegate; if not, it is invalid. CABRERA, Miguel A Spaniard and his Mexican Indian Wife and their Child Museo de America, Madrid

5. Marriage, a path to sanctity The sacrament of marriage grants to the spouses the graces necessary to sanctify themselves and others. It is the duty of the whole family – of the children too – to foster in a natural way the Christian atmosphere of a bright and cheerful home, sacrificing themselves to obtain the human and supernatural virtues proper to a family which was made holy by a sacrament from its beginning. GRECO, El The Marriage of the Virgin Oil on canvas, 110 x 83 cm National Museum of Art of Romania, Bucharest

Resolutions for Christian life

Resolutions to move forward Make an effort to make life more pleasant for those who live with us. Have great regard for this sacrament, and help others to understand it and thank God for it.