MARRIAGE AND GOD'S WILL - 8/12/22 (Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal)

Matthew 19:3–6

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’?

So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081222.cfm

Blessed Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal! Marriage is an institution that is designed and made by God Himself. In today's culture where marriage is redefined, it is important to know God's will on it. There are at least two ways that the world disrespects this sacred institution such as in the case of same-sex marriage and divorce. 

But, Jesus is clear that marriage is exclusive between man and a woman. As what our Lord said, in the beginning, God made male and female. The culture cannot and should not disregard what the natural and divine law says about marriage. At the same time, the fact that marriage is only between man and woman reflects the relationship between Christ, as the Bridegroom, and the Church as His Spouse. As such, the redefinition that we can see in our world also distorts, not just God's commandments, but also the covenant between God and the Church. 

When we reflect on the mystical marriage between Jesus Christ and the Church, we can also see the truth about indissolubility. Jesus is the Head while the Church is His mystical body here on earth. Because of His love for us, even though we are unfaithful to Him by always acting contrary to His will, He always remains faithful to us. This indissolubility is also seen in marriages here on earth. As what the spouses promise, "till death do us part." Only death can dissolve a valid marriage. Of course, there are cases when people file for annulment, but this does not prove that a valid marriage is dissolved or that love never existed between them. Rather, it simply means that there are some necessary conditions about marriage that are not fulfilled prior to or at the beginning of marriage. As such, the Catholic Church remains faithful to the teachings of Christ while considering the pastoral needs of the people, especially those that are wounded from their broken families. 

Below, there are links that provide many articles that explain the stance of the Catholic Church regarding same-sex marriage and divorce. Also, it's important for us to know that marriage is a vocation. This means that people who answered the call to marriage are invited to persevere in holiness. The spouses can be truly one when they are united with the will of God. Before becoming a religious nun, she was a lay who truly persevered in holiness in her family under the guidance of St. Francis de Sales as her spiritual director. In her family, they introduced God and the faith to her children, and most importantly, she embodied the virtue of humility and gentleness. Let's pray for families to be faithful to God's calling for all of us. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

For more information on the life of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, click here:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-jane-frances-de-chantal

For more articles on the Church stance against same-sex marriage, click here:

https://www.catholic.com/search?q=Same%20sex%20Marriage

For more articles on the Church stance against divorce, click here:

https://www.catholic.com/search?q=Divorce

For the examination of conscience and guide to confession, click here:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/