The Catholic teaching on Matrimony

The book of Tobias and the Catholic ideal of Matrimony

How to be Good Parents

How to have a Happy Marriage

The Nature of Marriage

The Sins Against Marriage

The Catholic teaching on Matrimony

Marriage was instituted by GOD Himself:

"And the Lord GOD said: 'It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a helper like unto himself'." Genesis 2:18

"Then the Lord GOD cast a deep sleep upon Adam: and when he was fast asleep, He took one of his ribs, and filled up flesh for it. And the Lord GOD built the rib which He took from Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam." Genesis 2:21-22

"...and they shall be two in one flesh." Genesis 2:24

Matrimony is the Sacrament which unites a Christian man and a Christian woman as husband and wife. It is a sacred contract, a binding agreement, by which two baptized persons, a man and a woman, undertake to live faithfully and affectionately together as husband and wife from that moment forward until parted by death:

"For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they two shall be one flesh. Therefore they are now not two, but one flesh. What therefore GOD hath joined together, let no man put asunder." St. Matthew 19:5-6

The Sacrament of Marriage goes beyond conferring marital and parental rights and obligations, by producing the same supernatural affects as the other six sacraments: it increases sanctifying grace and gives right to actual graces throughout the duration of the marriage. Since GOD has joined the married couple, the Grace of GOD dwells within them and Divine life is increased. With this sacrament, natural love is elevated above the earthly and placed upon the Altar of GOD.

The husband is bound to support his wife in suitable comfort and he should share his riches with her. If he be poor, she should be willing to share his poverty with him. A wife is under obligation to submit to her husband as the head of the household. The Holy Bible states:

"Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord. Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the Head of the Church...Therefore as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it." Ephesians 5:22-25

"Husbands, love your wives..." Colossians 3:19

The Catholic Church under no circumstances has the authority to dissolve a marriage (divorce).The Church sometimes grants a separation of husband and wife because of cruelty or adultery but, never a divorce, for this would not only go against the Code of Canon Law, but also against the basic teachings of Christ.

"If either husband or wife be guilty of adultery, the Church permits the innocent party to SEPARATE from the other at once." CANON 1130

The Church only permits a separation (in extreme cases), not a divorce.

"For the woman that hath an husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the Law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the Law of her husband." Romans 7:2

"A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry of whom she will; only in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:39

Therefore what GOD has put together, no man can part for whatever reason, for in the eyes of GOD the two remain one flesh, whether they are separated or divorced.

Marriage was instituted by GOD and elevated to the dignity of a Sacrament by Christ, the Son of GOD. The Church therefore cannot dissolve a marriage, a Sacrament which Jesus instituted (St. Matthew19:6...'let no man put asunder'). Further references to support the teachings of the Catholic Church concerning divorce are as follows:

"And He saith to them: Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, commit adultery against her. And if the wife shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she commit adultery." St. Mark 10:11-12

"Everyone that put away this wife, and marrieth another, commit adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, commit adultery." St. Luke 16:18 "And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication..." St. Matthew 19:9

The Schismatic Greeks, Protestants and sects argue that the above wording (Matt 19:9, except it be for fornication...), justifies their claim that a marriage can be dissolved only after adultery and still exercise the option for re-marry.

The law gives permission for a separation only, but due to the fact that they are still one flesh according to the Law, re-marrying cannot be justified, therefore their claim is erroneous. If it were correct (St. Matthew 19:9, except it be for fornication...), it would be an encouragement for the guilty to commit adultery in legally justifying their re-marrying. Therefore the teachings of the Catholic Church are in accordance with that of Christ's teachings.

In conclusion, Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament instituted by Christ; it has a divine nature which gives it its indissolubility and therefore justifying what would otherwise be an act of adultery. Holy Matrimony has many spiritual implications as it is a great mystery and a blessing which grants the necessary graces to carry on in the spirit of Love which is sanctified by GOD.