The Sacrament of Marriage is a lasting commitment of a man and a woman to a lifelong partnership, established for the good of each other and the procreation of their children. Marriage is different to most of the Sacraments which are conferred by a priest, or bishop. The vocation to marriage is inscribed in the very nature of man and woman, as they came from the hand of the Creator. Despite the many variations that marriage has undergone over the centuries in different cultures and social structures, there is always present a sense of the greatness of the marital union. Nevertheless, the dignity of this institution is not always apparent with the same clarity. God, who created the human person out of love, has also called us to love, the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.
Sacrament of Marriage
As Genesis says, man was created in the image and likeness of God, who is Love. God having created man and woman, the mutual love between them becomes the image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. This love is good, very good, in the eyes of the Creator. Sacred Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for each other. Genesis says that “it is not good that man should be alone.” The woman, “flesh of his flesh,” his equal, the creature most like man himself, is given to him by God. “Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” This indefectible union is explained by the Lord himself when he remembers what was “in the beginning,” the Creator’s plan: “So that they are no longer two but one flesh” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1603-1605)
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:6
