Marriage and the Catholic Church

Conjugal Love

• Involves totally giving oneself

• All elements of the individual enter into it

• Deepest unity between couple

• Requires indefinite faithfulness

• Open to fertility

Bruce Almighty Clip

Marriage Bond (CCC 1639, 1640)

• Spouses must give themselves to each other

• God seals bond• Covenant relationship• Can never be dissolved

Grace (CCC 1641, 1642)

• Gift from God received through Sacraments• Empowers humans, brings us closer to God• In marriage, makes the couple’s love stronger,

therefore, closer to holiness• Helps the couple in their duties as spouses

(and parents)• Grace supports couple during hard times

Sex (CCC 2360-2363)

• Sex made to be used in marriage

• Physical experience sign of spiritual union

• Source of joy given freely by and to each other

• Fosters self-giving• Transmission of life

Offences Against Marriage

Lust

• Disorder, seeking pleasure for itself

• Isolated from unitive and procreative functions of sex

Masturbation

• Deliberate stimulation of genital organs

• Sexual pleasure outside of a union

• Certain factors may reduce culpability to a minimum

Fornication

• Carnal union between two unmarried individuals

• Sexuality not being used for the good of one’s spouse

• Risk of unwanted children

Although James Bond movies glorify one-night stands, what are some of the risks of living a “James Bond” sex life?

Pornography

• Removes sexual acts from intended context

• Not between two intimate partners

• Displays for third parties• Defiles the body

Prostitution

• Injures dignity of person• One who pays does the most

damage• Added sin when children

involved• Mitigating factors may

minimize culpability

Rape

• Forcible violation of another person• Can mark victim for life