Sacramentality of Marriage and the Universal Call to Holiness | Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP
Apr 22, 2024
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Fr. Thomas Joseph White, a Dominican priest, delves into the sacramentality of marriage and the universal call to holiness. He discusses the significance of intending to have children in marriage, the sanctity of mutual support in relationships, the influence of parental religious devotion on children's beliefs, and the challenges and permissibility of marriage later in life.
Marriage is a friendship of souls aimed at raising children, sealed by consent and defined by shared goals.
The sacramentality of marriage sanctifies the couple's life, deepening their communion with God through shared experiences.
Deep dives
The Nature of Marriage According to Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas explores the nature of marriage through the lens of the marriage of Joseph and Mary, delving into the concept of true human marriage in the absence of conjugal relations. The nature of marriage, as outlined by Aquinas, involves a friendship between a man and a woman with an inseparable union of souls, aimed at the begetting and upbringing of children. Aquinas emphasizes that marriage is essentially a friendship defined by a common project of seeking to have and raise children together.
The Sacramental Effects of Marriage
Marriage, similar to sacraments, has formal effects - the indissolubility of the union of souls and the sanctification of the couple's life together. The first effect seals their friendship in Christ indissolubly, while the second effect sanctifies their life as they grow closer to each other and to Christ through their shared experiences. The consent of the couple, grounded in their baptismal grace, ratifies the sacramental aspect of marriage, where they are united in Christ and their life together becomes a place for mutual growth and sanctification.
Living Out Charity in Marriage
Charity, as the grace of God, manifests in the couple's life together mirroring Christ's love for the Church. The married couple's communion with God deepens through their commitment to the natural goods of marriage, including fidelity, openness to children, and mutual self-giving. By nurturing a relationship founded on shared parenting responsibilities and growing in communion with God through prayer, the couple embodies Christ's love in their daily lives.
Spiritual Benefits of Natural Family Planning
Embracing Natural Family Planning (NFP) carries significant spiritual benefits for couples, fostering deeper communication, respect for each other's bodies, and a grounding in their sexuality within the context of their shared faith. NFP provides a means for the couple to give their bodies to God through their openness to procreation, leading to a heightened sense of communion with God through prayer and living out their faith together. By applying NFP in their marital life, couples can enrich their spiritual journey and grow closer to God in a profound and meaningful way.