Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 19th Sunday of Ordinary time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The sacrament of Holy Marriage is treated by the Catechism of the Catholic Church in eight (8) In Brief passages. The following is a reflection on article 1659.
“Saint Paul says: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ has loved the Church. (…) This mystery is of great range; I say to you that it is applied to Christ and to His Church (Ephesians 5:25, 32).” This is how the Catechism begins its’ summary of the dogma concerning Holy Marriage. Beginning these reflections on Holy Marriage, starting with Sacred Scripture, reminds us that the most frequently cited source in the Catechism is Sacred Scripture. While Saint Paul’s inspired directive does not positively say that “wives should love their husbands” it should be understood. The omitted text, represented by the ellipsis, refers to wives being submissive to their husbands, often celebrated by the chauvinistic. Mutual subjection, anticipating each other in showing respect (cf. Romans 12:10) is what is called for.
How is it that Christ loved His Church? He gave Himself up to death on the Cross. Jesus Christ was not only willing to die for her, He did so. This is a tall order, but part of the sacrificial nature of Holy Marriage as Mother Church sees it. How often mothers of families have died in bringing new life to birth? Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (AD 1922–1962) comes to mind.
Saint Jerome’s Vulgate renders our English “great mystery” as “magnum sacramentum.” Marriage is a great sacrament which makes great saints out of those who are faithful to the call. The nuptial bond between Christ and His bride is unbreakable. There are some in this world who look at Marriage as if it were only a human construct, able to be toyed with according to the whim and fashion of the day, that is foreign to God’s vision and plan.
The word “love” is found in Sacred Scripture in over two hundred (200) verses, one hundred (100) of these in the New Testament. The word “charity” is found another eighty-seven (87) times, eighty-three (83) of these in the New Testament.
Two (2) further magnificent passages help to clarify what God means for us to understand when inspiring Saint Paul to write to the Ephesians “husbands love your wives”: 1 John 4:8 and 1 Corinthians 13:1–13.
“He that loves not knows not God: for God is charity” (1 John 4:8) helps us to understand what it means when we read about husbands loving their wives. We have been made in the image of God who is love (charity) and are called to love not only God but neighbor and self. Spouses, by the grace of Holy Marriage are called to especially to love each other.
Saint Paul’s “Ode to Charity” (1 Corinthians 13:1–13) helps us to understand what it means when we read about husbands loving their wives. Kindness, humility, generosity, chastity…, these are all manifestations of the love proper to Holy Marriage.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr