


The Elements of a Natural Marriage

As Father John Hardon explains in his Pocket Catholic Dictionary, there are four elements common to natural marriage throughout history:

  1. It is a union of opposite sexes.

  2. It is a lifelong union, ending only with the death of one spouse.

  3. It excludes a union with any other person so long as the marriage exists.

  4. Its lifelong nature and exclusiveness are guaranteed by contract.

So, even at a natural level, divorce, adultery, and "homosexual marriage" are not compatible with marriage, and a lack of commitment means that no marriage has taken place.


In the Catholic Church, however, marriage is more than a natural institution; it was elevated by Christ Himself, in His participation in the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), to be one of the Seven Sacraments. A marriage between two Christians, therefore, has a supernatural element as well as a natural one. While few Christians outside of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches regard marriage as a Sacrament, the Catholic Church insists that marriage between any two Baptized Christians, as long as it is entered into with the intention to contract a true marriage, is a Sacrament.



The effect of the Sacrament is an increase in Sanctifying Grace for the spouses, a participation in the divine life of God Himself.




Taken from About Religion Website: