{"id":47530,"date":"2022-12-13T20:13:25","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T20:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/?p=47530"},"modified":"2026-07-28T16:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:47:12","slug":"what-is-marriage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/5.capp-usa.org\/es\/2022\/12\/what-is-marriage\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Marriage?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Join our Newsletter<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/h1>\n

What is Marriage?<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n

 <\/p>\n

The marriage debate feels endless. But let's step back and ask \"why is marriage important\", and \"who defines it<\/strong>\"? These questions and their answers are vital.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many put forward fluid definitions of marriage, others dismiss the institution entirely, while others insist on \u2018traditional\u2019 definitions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Marriage<\/p>\n

The correct definition and purpose of marriage is vital to solving our cultural crisis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is the Truth?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is Marriage?<\/span><\/h2>\n


Marriage is\u00a0defined by God<\/strong> and His laws. Therefore, this sacred institution cannot be redefined by anyone. Period.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarriage\u201d is an \u201cintimate partnership of\u2026life and love\u2026established by the Creator and qualified by His laws, and is rooted in the conjugal covenant of irrevocable personal consent.\u201d (Gaudium et Spes, 48)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c[M]arriage and the family are<\/strong> rooted in the inmost nucleus of the truth<\/strong> about man and his destiny.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Marriage is Between a Man and a Woman<\/span><\/h2>\n


Marriage cannot be redefined or expanded to include same-sex unions, \"throuples\", or any other thing it is not. Marriage is <\/span>\"that intimate union of life in complementarity between a man and a woman which is constituted in the freely contracted and publicly expressed indissoluble bond of matrimony and is open to the transmission of life\u201d. <\/span>(Preamble, B., Charter of the Rights of the Family)<\/a><\/p>\n

And \u201cthe unity of marriage will radiate from the equal<\/b>\u00a0personal<\/strong>\u00a0dignity<\/strong>\u00a0of wife and husband<\/strong>, a dignity\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0by mutual and\u00a0total\u00a0love.\u201d\u00a0(Gaudium et Spes, 49)<\/em><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

So governments must take note: <\/span>\u201c[T]he State must acknowledge, respect and support this venerable institution<\/strong> as the stable union between a man and a woman who willingly embrace a life-long commitment of love and fidelity\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Marriage is Important<\/span><\/h2>\n


Marriage is critical to culture's health. \u201c[H]uman society at large springs from marriage\u201d. (Pope Leo XIII, 17)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That is why the Church makes such a \"big deal\" of family. When others exclaim, \"Just live and let live\", we answer \"How can we?\" \u201c[M]arriage and the family constitute one of the most precious of human values<\/strong>\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 1)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

And \u201cThe family is based upon a marriage\u201d. <\/strong>(Pope St. John XXIII, 193)<\/a> which \"transcends the feelings and momentary needs of the couple\u2026it is not born \u2018of loving sentiment, ephemeral by definition, but from the depth of the obligation assumed by the spouses who accept to enter a total communion of life\u2019.\" (Pope Francis, 66)<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever wants to build the civic and social edifice on strong and stable foundations must base\u00a0it on a conception of\u00a0marriage and the family\u201d. (Pope Pius XII)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Marriage is indispensable to society<\/strong>. <\/span>\u201c<\/em>The well-being of the\u00a0individual\u00a0person and\u2026society is intimately\u00a0linked\u00a0with the healthy condition of that\u00a0community\u00a0produced by marriage and family.\u201d\u00a0(Gaudium et Spes, 47)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Future of Marriage<\/span><\/h2>\n


What can Catholics do to promote the true definition and purpose of marriage? \u201cChristians\u2026should actively\u00a0promote\u00a0the values\u00a0of marriage and the family, both\u00a0by the examples of their\u00a0own lives\u00a0and by cooperation with other men of good will.\u201d\u00a0(Gaudium et Spes, 52)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is \u201ca\u00a0social\u00a0and even\u00a0economic necessity\u2026to\u00a0hold up to future generations the beauty of marriage and the family<\/strong>, and the fact that these institutions correspond to the deepest needs and dignity of the person.\u201d (Pope Benedict XVI, 44)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

The future depends on good marriages.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Family?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Top Magisterial Quotes about Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Top Marriage Quotes from the Church<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Family Important?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Healthy Families are the Future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Consumption and Family Life<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Is Family Life Today Under Attack?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Families and New Definitions<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Rediscovering the Power of Fatherhood<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Importance of Motherhood<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Learning from the Holy Family<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

An Old Fashioned Christmas<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

More About Marriage<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Back to Articles<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\"Three<\/div>

Three Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>

Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Human Dignity<\/a><\/h2>

This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Solidarity<\/a><\/h2>

Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div>

Subsidiarity<\/a><\/h2>

Subsidiarity \u201cis a fundamental principle of social philosophy, fixed and unchangeable, that one should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry. So, too, it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and a disturbance of right order to transfer to the larger and higher collectivity functions which can be performed and provided for by the lesser and subordinate bodies\u201d. (Pope Pius XI)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Sign Up For Our Newsletter:<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>