Marriage Series 1 of 4: God’s Plan for Marriage

03-12-2023Weekly LetterBarbara Lishko

In this series of articles, we seek to offer our parishioners a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony. We hope to inspire, educate, enlighten, strengthen, and encourage couples and those who are contemplating the married life. We will also share practical help for those who are feeling challenged in their marriage and in marriages wishing to grow in love. For those who are no longer married due to the death of their spouse or divorce, we continue to support and love you.

What is marriage in God’s plan for humanity? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), in paragraphs 1601-1666 provides a brilliant summation of what the Church teaches on marriage. I recommend you read them for greater understanding.

“The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws….God himself is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. CCC:1603

Let’s start at the beginning, directly from Scripture:

“Then God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. God created mankind in his image; in the image of God, he created them; male and female, he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” Gen 1:26-28

Marriage is God’s idea, and everything God does is for our good. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen writes, “The vocation to marriage is a vocation to happiness, which comes through holiness and sanctity. The love that sustains them at every step of the road is the Love that created them and witnessed their union. The sanctity of married life is not something that takes place alongside marriage, but by and through marriage.” (Three to Get Married)

In short, we have learned that God is good and does everything for our good. Marriage is God’s idea.

Marriage images in a visible world, a peek at how God loves, forgives, and the fruitful nature of life-giving love. Our marriages are meant to mirror Trinitarian love to the world. Marriage in God’s beautiful plan, is also a means of sanctification of the couple. That means, we grow in holiness in and through marriage. How? By practicing selfless love which is putting our spouse before self. In the next article we will delve more into what love means and how it is lived out within marriage.

Mark your calendars and register for the upcoming Marriage retreat: “Fool-proof Your Marriage” Sat, Apr 1, 9:00am - 2:00pm. More information can be found in this bulletin, online or at: marriage@standrewchandler.com