Sacrament of Marriage - Essay Example

Sacrament of Marriage Introduction At the time in the history of man when men and women concerned themselves about the interpersonal relationships, there developed an extensive questioning on the specific relations between man and woman in marriage. Marriage entails the ceremony, which results to the formation of a conjugal union as an enduring condition with moral, legal, social and religious aspects. Marriage form the religious perceptive presents the subject of the sacrament of marriage as understood in practice1. Studying the historical evolution of the church and its status in the cannons of the sacrament if marriage, it is evident this subject elicits varied testimonials from the society. This concerns the establishment of the relations among the people involved in the union, as well as, the attribution of the relationship to the purpose of God in the individual lives of the people2. Thus, from the catholic cannons, marriage is a sacrament between baptized people joined in union at the confines of the church doctrines. It constitutes the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and the people. Thus, like the other sacraments, the sacrament of marriage is a symbol to reveal the Lord Jesus, facilitate the divine life, and love to the people. Historical evolution of the sacrament The twentieth century saw the evolution of the theology of marriage within the developments of the church, begging with the incorporations established by Pope Pius XI in 930, and passing through to the Second Vatican Council and Pope Paul VI. The culmination was the unfolding of the writings on the insights of Pope John Paul II. The church drifted from the juridical presentation of marriage to adopt church pronouncements that personalized the duties and rights of marriage, to present it as a presentation for availing conjugal love between the spouses3. The Vatican and Cannon Law explains the definition of marriage as an intimate, exclusive, indissoluble communion of love and life shared by man and woman as a fulfillment to the design established by the Creator of their own good and procreation. This covenant entails joining two baptized persons, raising the dignity of the sacrament. Historical development ranges back to the initial establishments about the promiscuity of man, which instituted the need to develop religious cannons to streamline the practice of marriage4. The responsibilities associated also contributed to the establishment of the divine union, as practice of monogamy became the preaching from the church5. Thus, current establishments and practices in the sacrament of marriage have evolved accordingly through various stages, facilitated by early church, mostly the Catholic understanding and definition of marriage. Theological and own understanding of the sacrament The Christian theology is an enterprise seeking to construct a system of beliefs and practices. The primary basis of the coherent beliefs bases on the texts of the old and New Testament in addition to the historical traditions of the Christians6. Christians hold the perceptive that the sacrament of marriage is a holy union, which entails the interaction of man, and woman, that is people of opposite sex only. The theological perspectives hold that the sacrament of marriage is a lifelong covenant that binds the people and separation should only occur when death happens to either of the spouses7. Additionally, the union guarantees the nature and exclusiveness of the contact, facilitating the conjugal rights of the people in the natural way of physical union among the people in the union. In theological perceptive, marriage as a union is more than natural institution, it is supernatural, in which Christ himself participates as explained in the wedding at Cana. Most Christians in the various theological doctrines also hold the marriage as sacrament, which facilitates the union of two baptized Christians8. Sanctifying the union helps the spouses to advance in growth in holiness and in the cooperation with the guidelines of God’s plan for the redemption of the people and rising of the children in Faith9. Theology holds, marriage is a divine union between Christ, the Bridegroom, the Bride and his Church. Personally, being of the faith, I also perceive that marriage is a holy union consecrated by God and allowed for man to practice10. I believe in the doctrines of marriage as defined in the cannons of the sacrament, as marriage facilitates the alleviation of the bondage of promiscuity, allowing the people to enjoy the conjugal rights in holiness as Christ demands. Relevance of the sacrament today In the sacrament of marriage, the love of God becomes manifest in the spouses as they engage in their total union and flow through with the family and community setting11. The presentation of the marriage as holy union is changing rapidly, with a causal approach to the union affecting the course of the doctrines as established regarding the practice of marriage in the judicial laws. The society is adopting varying and deviant practices, which are contrary to the doctrines of the sacrament of marriage, a factor that is contributing to the changing understanding of the sacrament today12. The relevance of the sacrament today is losing value as the evident developments in the church continue evoking mixed understanding of the practice13. The church, although in denial, it is adopting the practices of the common society, which is contrary to the doctrines. For instance, the church is battling with issues such as contemporary developments of same sex marriages among others. These developments are evidence of the failure of the doctrines in achieving their relevant purpose as instituted initially. Thus, the sacrament of marriage is continually losing its relevance today. Problems and mitigation in the church practice or theology of the sacrament The issues relating to the course of the sacrament of marriage emanate from the contemporary developments in the church setting. Notably, the society is evolving, adopting varied practices and behaviors, which are contrary to the defined laws of the church. Thus, such issues are remarkably influencing the success of the church doctrines regarding marriage. Notably, contemporary emerging issues include the debates on sanctity of life, the rights of individuals, which lead to same sex marriages, and the subject of birth control mechanisms. Thus, these developments affect the practice of the church, in regard to the sacrament of marriage. In mitigating the issues, the church is in continuous discussion to establish where the compromise is and develop additional doctrines to cover the problems facing the church practice. Bibliography Aler, Michael G. (1993). Marriage and sacrament: a theology of Christian marriage. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press. Foket M. (2007). Marriage, divorce, remarriage: challenges and perspectives For Christians. Virginia: Peeters,. Joseph Martos, (1981). Doors to the Sacred: An Historical introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church: (London SCM) 399.  Joseph A ( 2007). Selling, Marriage as Sacrament: The evolution of an Idea Rodger Burggraeve, Klaus Demmer & Aldegonde Brenninekmeijer-Werhahn, eds,( 1997). Christian Marriage today. Washington: Catholic University of America,. Kevin Knight, (2009). New Advent Featuring the Catholic Encyclopaedia [CD-ROM] Disc Makers, Pennsuaken, NJ.USA,.  Lumen Gentium (1966). The Documents of Vatican ii, ed. Walter M. Abbott (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1966) Louise Marie Chauvet ( 2001). The sacraments: The Word of God at the Mercy of the Body, (Collegeville: Liturgical Press), 42. Sheehy, Gerard, and Francis G. Morrisey. (1995). The canon law letter & spirit: a practical guide to the Code of canon law. Alexandria, N.S.W.: E.J. Dwyer. Sheehy, Gerad. (1996). The canon law: letter & spirit. London: Chapman. Sheehy, Gerard. 1995. The Canon law: letter and spirit : a practical guide to the Code of Canon Law. London: Geoffrey Chapman. Schillebeeckx, Edward. (1965). Marriage: Human Reality and Saving Mystery. London: Sheed and Ward. Thomas, David M.( 1983). Christian Marriage: A Journey Together. Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier,. Vatican Council, and B. H. Louisson. 1978. Pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world: "Gaudium et spes". 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