marriage
From a letter by Tertullian, an Early Church Father, to his wife, ca. 202 AD, illustrating the great esteem for the sacrament of holy marriage in the days of the early Catholic Church.
How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice.
They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in Spirit. They are in very truth, two in one flesh; and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit.
They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another.
Side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another, they never shun each other’s company; they never bring sorrow to each other’s hearts… Psalms and hymns they sing to one another.
Hearing and seeing this, Christ rejoices. To such as these He gives His peace. Where there are two together, there also He is present, and where He is, there evil is not.
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From Marriage, A path of sanctity by Javier And and Eugenio Fenoy
1. With the sacrament of matrimony, every act of intimacy, every intimate moment, every gesture of affection (kiss, hug, carress) is sealed and perfected by Christ.
2. Spouses might not be aware of it, but the mutual love of spouses is Christ's love. Every reciprocal love is deeply inspired by God's love. Every manifestation of love and respect, every sacrifice or sorrow, whatever sweet or require patient, every moment of rest and work - ever second in family life is infused with the divine.
Our love for our wife is a fully human love, as well as divine love. It is to reflect how Christ loves his church. Full of mercy, forgiveness, full of charity. Our homes should be centers of Christian virtue.
Another consideration is that the conjugal spirituality is fully lay and secular in nature. Married couples seek to be holy in the fulfillment of ordinary duties, which is in no way related to the spirituality of the religious order.
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