Marriage Preparation Program

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Marriage: The Icon of Salvation History

“Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of ‘the wedding-feast of the Lamb.’ Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its ‘mystery,’ its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal ‘in the Lord’ in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church.” (CCC 1602)

Now that we have established our working definition of marriage, we need to better understand what is meant by “covenant.”  Our modern society looks upon marriage as a contract, a promise that one signs onto in his/her own name.  That is sufficient for the civil (legal) side, the worldly side, of the “marriage coin.”  However, marriage is much more than a contract; it is a covenant.  A covenant is a promise that involves an oath sworn in the name of God, asking for His assistance in this exchange of persons.  Invoking the Holy Name of God strengthens and consecrates this solemn commitment.¹²