OCIA Session 10 Supplement - Marriage - Sacramental love and covenant

When two people fall in love, they often dream of building a life together - a home, a family, a future. In the Catholic Church, marriage is not only a beautiful human relationship but also a sacrament - a holy covenant that mirrors God’s love for His people. The Catechism describes it this way: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament” (CCC 1601).

Marriage is not just a contract. A contract says, “I will give you this if you give me that.” A covenant says, “I give you myself completely.” God has always worked through covenants. In the Old Testament, He made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Each covenant deepened His relationship with His people. Finally, through Jesus, God made a new and eternal covenant sealed in His blood. Christian marriage participates in that covenant - husband and wife become a living sign of Christ’s love for His Church. St. Paul says in Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” That kind of love is not based on convenience or feelings. It is self-giving, sacrificial, and faithful until death.

Jesus affirmed the sacredness of marriage. In Matthew 19:4-6 He said, “Have you not read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” These words remind us that marriage is God’s design - a lifelong union that no human authority can break.

What makes marriage a sacrament is that it gives grace. The love between husband and wife is not only natural affection but also a channel of God’s own love. The spouses are the ministers of the sacrament to each other - when they exchange vows, they confer the sacrament on one another. Their “I do” is more than a promise - it is an invitation for Christ Himself to dwell in their union. This grace strengthens them to love faithfully, to forgive, to raise children in faith, and to persevere through trials.

Marriage is also fruitful. It is ordered toward the gift of life. When a husband and wife welcome children, they participate in God’s creative power. Psalm 127:3 tells us, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” But fruitfulness goes beyond children. Even couples who cannot have children are called to be fruitful by making their love a blessing to others through hospitality, service, and spiritual parenthood.

Here’s a humor break: anyone who has been married knows that marriage is not always candlelit dinners and roses. It is also laundry, dishes, bills, and the occasional disagreement about how to load the dishwasher. But that is exactly where grace is needed most. Marriage is about finding Christ not only in the highs of romance but in the everyday grind of life. God’s love shows up in the ordinary - in patience when you are tired, forgiveness after an argument, and joy in small acts of kindness.

For those preparing for marriage, the Church provides preparation because it is such an important covenant. For those already married, the Church encourages constant renewal through prayer, communication, and the Eucharist. Couples who pray together, attend Mass together, and keep Christ at the center find the strength to endure the challenges of life. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In Christian marriage, that third strand is Christ, who holds the union together.

Take time to reflect: what do you think it means to love like Christ loves the Church? How can marriage reflect that sacrificial, faithful, and fruitful love? If you are not married, how can you support and encourage those who are? If you are married, how can you deepen your love for your spouse and invite Christ more fully into your union?

Here’s your practical challenge this week: pray for marriages. If you are married, set aside time to pray with your spouse, even just one Our Father or a prayer of thanksgiving. If you are preparing for marriage, pray for the grace to be a faithful and loving spouse. If you are single, pray for your future vocation and for the married couples in your parish.

In closing, remember this: marriage is not simply about two people making a life together. It is about revealing Christ’s love to the world. A strong, faithful marriage becomes a living witness that God’s covenant love is real and unbreakable. Next time, we will look at Holy Orders and vocations - how God calls priests, deacons, religious, and lay people to serve Him in unique ways. Until then, give thanks for the gift of marriage and pray that every couple may reflect the love of Christ and His Church.