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Marriage as a Covenant:Marriage as a Covenant:EndsEnds

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• Marriage is not just a contract butalso 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 byLove

 – It is a love-covenant underlining the

biblical aspect of marriage

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• A covenant refers to relationshipbetween God and man (Gen. 17:1)

 – God’s initiative to reach out to his

people to build the bond

 – He made a promise out of love andremained 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.

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• In Jewish tradition Covenant is: – An agreement entered by people

themselves.

 – Shapes a relationship that is equalin 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 

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• A Covenant is: – Entered by persons based on a

special friendship

 – Lively partnership and open-mindedcommitment

 – A kind of relationship that endures

 – Found in man and woman joined inmatrimony

 – Because there are three (3)

persons involved: husband, wife,

God

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• The traditional goods andproperties of marriage have a

richer context.

 – Traditional primary end isprocreation and education of

children;

 – Secondary end is the good ofspouses and good of children.

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• Ends is fully achieved only ifmarriage 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

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Ends of MarriageEnds 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 

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Ends of MarriageEnds of Marriage

• The Good of the Children (cont.)•Since God is always present in

the covenant, the task of

procreation is considered as agenerous way of cooperating in

God’s work of creation.

•Children are not considered asburdens but as gifts and the

crowning glory of marriage and

married love

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Ends of MarriageEnds 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

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Marriage as a Covenant: EndsMarriage as a Covenant: Ends

• Accordingly, Marriage as acontract has been elevated to the

level of a covenant

• The values of lastingness,faithfulness and fruitfulness

reinforce a couple’s mutual love

relationship in God that brings

beneficial effects to the husband,

wife and their children.

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End of LessonEnd of Lesson