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Doctrine: Baptism | Confirmation | Eucharist | Anointing | Holy Orders | Reconciliation | Justification
CASTI CONNUBII ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI ON Christian MARRIAGE TO THE VENERABLE BRETHREN, PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS, AND OTHER LOCAL ORDINARIES ENJOYING PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.ARCANUM ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON Christian MARRIAGE
HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Clementine Hall
Saturday, 27 January 2007 Dear Prelate Auditors, Officials and
Collaborators of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota,
The Sacrament of Matrimony
By Frederick Pogorzelski
A covenant or partnership of life between a man and a woman, which is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children. When validly contracted between two baptized people, Marriage is a sacrament. The Marriage covenant and celebration is an exchange of persons witnessed by a priest or deacon and sealed by the Holy Spirit. the Church minister at the celebration receives the mutual consent of the spouses in the name of the Church and gives the blessing of the Church.Against the Law of Moses, Jesus reestablished the original indissolubility of Marriage as God instituted ( Deut 24:1 ) ( Gen 1:26-28; 2:18-25; 3:12-21 ) ( 1 Cor 7:1-16,39 ) ( Mt 19:4-12 ) ( Mk 10:1-12 ).
The presence of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana is seen by the Church as a confirmation of the goodness of Marriage. Also as part of Gods plan in the economy of salvation, God had a nuptial covenant between Himself and His people Israel, preparing the way for the new and everlasting covenant and "the wedding feast of the Lamb". The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church the Church being the family of God. Children are a blessing from God and the fruits of conjugal love. The Christian home or "domestic church" is the place where children are welcomed, receive the faith, human virtues, and Christian charity ( Rev 19:7-9 ) ( Jn 2:1-11 ) ( Isa 62:1-5 ) ( Gal 5:13-14; 6:2 ) ( Eph 5:21-33 ) ( 1 Jn 4:8,16 ) ( Acts 11:14; 16:31; 18:8 ) ( Lk 16:18 ) ( Rom 7:2-3 ).
The Holy Spirit will continue to be present and to help strengthen us on our faith journey, sanctifying the lives of people from birth to death. Entering into Marriage, a man and woman receive grace. The sacrament of Marriage is the normative route God provided for us His creatures for we are not orphans left desolate ( Jn 14:15-18 ) ( Heb 13:1-6 ).