1 Marriage John Cole Saint Jude R.C.I.A. January 11, 2016
2 Sacramental States 3 Sacramental States in Life: Sacerdotal StateFound in the sacrament of “Holy Orders” (i.e. priesthood) Religious State (i.e. nuns, brothers, etc) Those who have bound themselves by vows of poverty, chastity, obedience Married State Those united by in the sacrament of matrimony
3 Marriage History Marriage“And the Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone; let us make him help like unto himself.” The Lord took a rib from Adam and made Eve “And God blessed them saying: increase and multiply and fill the earth” (Gen I, 27-28, )
4 Marriage Established MarriageInstituted and Blessed by God Himself in the Garden of Eden Contract between One man and One woman (monogamy of Adam and Eve) Cannot be dissolved by the contracting parties; if God joined them, then God alone can only separate Prime objective of Marriage is to preserve and increase the human race Adam and Eve relationship Intended to be a Model for all marriages
5 Marriage History Sin of Adam and Eve Ramifications:Objectification of Women Treated as Property – Slaves Increased Neglect, Abuse, Abandonment, Infanticide, Abortion, etc Polygamy (multiple spouses) Rampant in Old Testament (Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, etc) Increased Sexual Promiscuity All Tolerated by Israelites
6 Marriage History Divorce Most Severest blow to marriageGeneral Society allowed a Man to divorce his wife over trivial reasons Even Law of Moses “had” to permit divorce and remarriage due to “hardness of heart” and to prevent worse evils (Matthew 19:8) Only one “Greater” than Moses could restore marriage to its intended state
7 Christian View Marriage Restored (Recorded in 3 Gospels)Some Pharisees tested Jesus by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus Response: “… at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
8 Christian View Marriage Restored (con’t)When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her and if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 10)
9 Elements Elements of a Natural Marriage:It is a union of opposite sexes It is a lifelong union, ending only with the death of one spouse It excludes a union with any other person so long as the marriage exists Its lifelong nature and exclusiveness are guaranteed by contract
10 Supernatural ElementsElements of a Supernatural Marriage: All the elements of a Natural Marriage Increase in sanctifying grace for the spouses Commitment to each others mutual salvation Assists each other advance in holiness Openness to Life Assists each other cooperate in God's plan of redemption through openness to life and raising children in the faith
11 Supernatural ElementsElements of a Supernatural Marriage (cont): Participation in the divine life of God Himself “Husbands love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself up for her sake, that He may sanctify her” St. Paul calls this a "great mystery" in Ephesians 5:32. We participate not only in God's creative act but in the redemptive act of Christ.
12 Sacrament Outward or sensible sign Composed of 3 things:Matter - i.e. water, bread, wine, Form – words pronounced by the minister when he applies the matter “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit” Minister – valid minister with intention to perform the will of the church
13 Marriage Sacrament Marriage Composition:Matter - The “Marriage Contract” between the couple (man and woman and their consent) Form – public declaration of the “Vows” by the ministers of the sacrament Minister – The Marrying Couple Themselves The priest is there to Witness and Blesses the couple
14 Valid Marriage What makes a valid sacramental marriage?Able to exchange consent, and do so freely and unconditionally Consent to fidelity, indissolubility, and openness to children Not have any impediments to marriage (i.e. too young, already being married, blood or in-law relations, etc) Follow the sacramental process properly
15 Divorce/Annulment Divorce and Annulment are Not the Same:Divorce says that you were once married, but now you aren't. Divorce is a matter of civil law. Annulment says you were never truly married in the first place. Something necessary for a valid marriage was missing. Annulment is a matter of Church law.
16 Sexuality and Children
17 Purpose of our SexualityGod has put into human nature certain powers, passions, instincts meant to be used in the holy state of matrimony If these instincts didn’t exist, then man and woman would not be strongly drawn to each other, hence no need for marriage or procreation of the human race “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (and be joined to his wife), and the two shall become one flesh.” Mark 6-9
18 Purpose of our SexualitySince these powers were given to us by God for the purpose of establishing family and continuing the human race, they must be kept for that purpose God Himself instituted Marriage for the conservation of the human race and was raised to the dignity of a sacrament by Christ!
19 Children – Blessing from God“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” (Psalm 127) “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18)
20 Spears Video
21 10 Reasons to Have Another Child (www.quiverfull.com)
22 Become Co-Creators with GodParents are given the incredible opportunity to assist God in the creation of an immortal soul “The most important person on earth is a mother. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral - a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body. Even the angels have not been given such a grace! What is more glorious than this—to be a mother.” - Venerable József Mindszenty
23 True Joy It Brings There is no joy like the joy of welcoming a child into your life Brings a Joy can’t be bought or sold, but only given by God The birth of a child will bind you to God more tightly than ever before, in awed gratitude “Children build up the life of the family and society,” as Pope John Paul II has said. “The child becomes a gift to its brothers and sisters, parents and entire family
24 Children & Virtues Children teach their parents patience, perseverance, charity, and humility Gives their parents the opportunity to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy Children come into the world naked, we clothe them. Hungry and we feed them. Thirsty, and we give them drink. All of the things that we are required to do for the “least of these our brothers,” we do first and foremost for our own children St. Catherine of Siena once had a vision in which God took her to a roomful of crosses and told her to pick one. St. Catherine went to the largest, heaviest cross in the room and would have chosen it. But God told her that it was not for her: That was reserved for the parents of large families.
25 Future Generations Having Children ends abortion“Have a big family. That is the best way to end abortion!” (Mother Teresa of Calcutta) The more children there are in society, the more pro-life that society will become, and the easier it will be for the great evil of abortion to be eradicated once and for all. “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19
26 Benefits Society Learn Respect for Others:Children who have siblings learn early to share. They learn to take turns and to put the needs of others before their own. Boys who have sisters learn the dignity of women. They learn to treat other girls and women with respect, as they consider how they would like their own sisters to be treated. Girls who have brothers learn the complementarily of men and women, both fashioned in the image and likeness of God.
27 Parental Benefits Benefits Parents in Old AgePeople who have children don’t have to rely upon strangers to care for them in their old age. Your Children also become the parents of your grandchildren. Grandchildren bring joy, happiness, and laughter, while still allowing you to get a good night’s sleep! “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their Parentage.” (Proverbs 17)
28 Our Greatest Resource It is human ingenuity that discovers creative solutions to the problems which confront us People without children should remember that it will be someone else’s child who will become the doctors that performs their life-saving operations, firefighters that saves their houses, engineers building their hospitals. “How can there be too many children? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.” (Mother Teresa)
29 Economic ContributionFamilies with children fuel the economy: Purchasing houses, food, toys, cars, college educations, etc. Without young people to enter the workforce, our social security systems will fail. “Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home Like olive plants your children around your table. Just so will they be blessed who fear the Lord.” Psalm 128
30 Counter Global DepopulationThe World is Not Overpopulated Current Global population could fit easily into 2 of the US Largest states Fertility and Birth rates are Declining world wide If current trends continue, world population will peak mid-century then begin demographic freefall Our long-term problem is not too many children, but too few children.
31 Help Populate Heaven Children you accept from God were created to be return to Him, after a life of love, service, and obedience on earth, to spend eternity with God in heaven. Our Lord Himself said that there was plenty of room for those immortal souls. There is no overpopulation problem in Heaven! “There are many mansions in my Father’s house.” John 14:2
32 Questions