Christian Marriage and Family

A definite shift in the Catholic Church's understanding of marriage took place at Vatican Council II. Rather than perceiving marriage as a contract whose primary purpose was the procreation of children, the council spoke of marriage as an intimate partnership of life and love. Then, recapturing an earlier tradition, it went on to describe the family as a domestic church. In this book seven theologians who have lectured and written extensively on marriage probe the rich theology of marriage and family that emerged from Vatican II and explore some of the implications that flow from this theology. Part One reflects on the sacramentality of marriage and on the family as a church of the home. Part Two examines the pastoral implications this has for marital and family ministry and spirituality.Read less