Marriage as a Covenant:

Ends

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

Marriage is not just a contract but
also a covenant.
The focus is on the agreed matters by
the parties making the contract.
It is more than an agreement
Centering on persons entering into
marriage motivated by Love
It is a love-covenant underlining the
biblical aspect of marriage

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

A covenant refers to relationship
between God and man (Gen. 17:1)
Gods initiative to reach out to his
people to build the bond
He made a promise out of love and
remained faithful to them.
He fulfilled his promise by establishing a
new covenant brought by Christ
Enriching the love-relationship between
Jesus and His Church
Quality of covenant: Love, Sacrifice,
Forgiveness, and Faithfulness.

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

In Jewish tradition Covenant is:
An agreement entered by people
themselves.
Shapes a relationship that is equal
in binding to that of blood
connection
Relationship does not end even if
covenant is abandoned by either of
the spouse
A relationship that binds forever

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

A Covenant is:
Entered by persons based on a
special friendship
Lively partnership and open-minded
commitment
A kind of relationship that endures
Found in man and woman joined in
matrimony
Because there are three (3)
persons involved: husband, wife,
God

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

The traditional goods and
properties of marriage have a
richer context.
Traditional primary end is
procreation and education of
children;
Secondary end is the good of
spouses and good of children.

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

Ends is fully achieved only if
marriage has the ff:
Properties of unity and
indissolubility
Requirements of fidelity and
openness to fertility of the spouses
These values can be called as:
Lastingness
Faithfulness and
Fruitfulness

Ends of Marriage
The Good of the Spouses
Love-uniting element that brings two
person together
Love that manifests an unselfish
giving of self to another
Conjugal love involves totality of all
the elements John Paul II (FC, 13)
Love is not only a prerequisite for
marriage but the soul of marriage

Ends of Marriage
The Good of the Children
Naturally, marriage is ordained
towards procreation and education
Nature to propagate
Need to perpetuate race and culture
From Covenantal dimension, then the
children are considered as the fruits of
conjugal love
Extension of lasting pact, and
witnesses of a couple unwavering
fidelity to each other

Ends of Marriage
The Good of the Children (cont.)
Since God is always present in
the covenant, the task of
procreation is considered as a
generous way of cooperating in
Gods work of creation.
Children are not considered as
burdens but as gifts and the
crowning glory of marriage and
married love

Ends of Marriage
The Good of the Children (cont.)
Spouses should take their duties
as parents with greater
responsibility
Having to provide them with
proper nurturing
Fullness of life
Become responsible

Marriage as a Covenant: Ends

Accordingly, Marriage as a
contract has been elevated to the
level of a covenant
The values of lastingness,
faithfulness and fruitfulness
reinforce a couples mutual love
relationship in God that brings
beneficial effects to the husband,
wife and their children.

End of Lesson