Ethan Walker
Marriage in the Catholic Church has evolved over the centuries, influenced by cultural, social, and spiritual shifts. Initially, the Catholic Church regarded marriage as inferior to celibacy and chastity, and it was not until 1184 that marriage was recognised as a sacrament. The Church has historically imposed strict conditions on what constitutes a valid marriage, with the decree Tametsi of 1563 aiming to safeguard against invalid marriages. Over time, the Church's teachings have adapted, and it now recognises marriage as a lifelong partnership between one man and one woman, rooted in mutual consent, fidelity, and the potential for procreation. While the Church upholds the sanctity of marriage, societal changes, such as evolving social norms and religious decay, have impacted the institution of marriage, with increasing divorce rates and shifts in attitudes towards celibacy and procreation.
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What You'll Learn
Marriage viewed as inferior to chastity
For most of the past 2,000 years, Christianity has viewed marriage as inferior to chastity. Marriage was not considered a sacrament until 1184. Before that, Christians used the old Roman pagan rite. The Catholic Church reinforced the idea found in writers such as Plato and Aristotle that the celibate unmarried state was preferable and holier than the married state. It also challenged social norms such as the buying and selling of women into marriage, defending the right of women to choose to remain unmarried virgins for the sake of Christ. The stories of many virgin martyrs in the first few centuries of the Catholic Church make clear that they were martyred for their refusal to marry.
The Council of Trent, on 11 November 1563, condemned the view that "the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy, and that it is not better and more blessed to remain in virginity, or in celibacy, than to be united in matrimony". The decree Tametsi of 1563 was one of the last decisions made at Trent. It sought to impose the Church's control over the marriage process by laying down strict conditions for what constituted a valid marriage.
The Catholic Church has historically viewed monogamy as the only natural form of marriage, in harmony with the essential and immutable elements of human nature. The Church has also asserted that marriage is a lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman, and ordered towards the good of the spouses. In the 20th century, the Church's code of canon law stated that the primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children, with mutual support and a remedy for concupiscence as a secondary end.
While the view of marriage as inferior to chastity has changed over time, the Catholic Church continues to uphold the sanctity of marriage as a sacred bond between baptized persons.
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Marriage as a sacrament
The Catholic Church has always viewed marriage as a supernatural act, unlike Protestants, who do not consider it a sacrament and admit divorce. The Church has historically sought to control the process of marriage, imposing strict conditions on what constitutes a valid marriage. For example, in 1563, the Council of Trent condemned the view that "the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity, or of celibacy". The Council issued a decree, Tametsi, which aimed to safeguard against invalid marriages and abuses in clandestine marriages, which had become common.
The Church has also historically reinforced the idea that the celibate unmarried state is preferable and more holy than marriage, as seen in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. This idea was also accepted by the early Church, as shown in the 2nd-century Shepherd of Hermas. However, the Church also challenged social norms such as the buying and selling of women into marriage, defending the right of women to choose to remain unmarried.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman. It is ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. Marriage is seen as a symbol of God's love and is considered a special act that brings joy and blessing to humanity. The sexual differences between males and females are viewed as gifts from God, making possible the biblical passage, "that is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two become one body".
The permanence of marriage allows each spouse to reveal themselves fully to the other and to become a total gift of self. Marriage also establishes a family, with the love between husband and wife producing another person—a child—who is also loved and who loves in turn.
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Minimum age for marriage
The minimum age for marriage in the Catholic Church has changed over time. In the Middle Ages, the minimum age for marriage was 12 years for girls and 14 years for boys. However, there are historical cases of marriages involving children below the standard age of marriage within Catholic culture. For example, Isabella of Valois, daughter of King Charles VI of France, married King Richard II of England when she was just six years old, and he was 29. In this case, the marriage was not consummated until she reached the age of 12, as was the understanding at the time. Another example is the marriage of Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, to Anne de Mowbray in 1478; he was 4, and she was 5.
The minimum age for a valid marriage in the medieval Catholic world was considered to be the age of puberty. Arranged marriages were permitted with the Church's and parents' permission, especially in noble families. The minimum age for a dissoluble betrothal was 7 years.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law raised the minimum age for a valid marriage to 16 years for men and 14 years for women. This change was maintained in the 1983 Code of Canon Law. However, it is important to note that the Church's baseline law acknowledges that a conference of bishops is free to establish a higher age for the licit celebration of marriage.
While the minimum age for marriage in the Catholic Church has been officially set at 16 years for men and 14 years for women, there are cultural differences in the acceptance of teenage marriages. In some rural or conservative communities, teenage marriages may be more common and accepted, while in other parts of the world, such as the modern West, there may be a growing trend to delay marriage until individuals are older.
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Marriage during religious periods
Marriage in the Catholic Church has evolved over the centuries, influenced by cultural, social, and spiritual shifts. While the specific beliefs and practices may have varied, the Catholic Church has consistently emphasised the sacred nature of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman.
The Early Church and Medieval Period
During the early centuries of the Catholic Church, marriage was not considered a sacrament. The Church reinforced the idea, found in Greek philosophy, that celibacy and virginity were more spiritually exalted states than marriage. This perspective was reflected in the stories of virgin martyrs, who were revered for their refusal to marry. The Church also challenged social norms that treated women as property, defending their right to choose celibacy and remain unmarried.
In the medieval period, the Catholic Church began to exert more control over the marriage process. The decree Tametsi of 1563 aimed to prevent clandestine marriages and establish strict conditions for valid marriages. The Council of Trent emphasised the superiority of celibacy and virginity over marriage, condemning the notion that "the marriage state is to be placed above the state of virginity or celibacy".
The Renaissance and the Reformation
During the Renaissance, the Catholic Church continued to uphold the sanctity of marriage while grappling with social changes and the emergence of Protestant beliefs. Protestants rejected the sacrament of marriage and accepted divorce, marking a significant divergence from Catholic doctrine.
The Industrial Revolution and Modern Era
With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the Catholic Church navigated societal transformations, including urbanisation, shifting gender roles, and religious decline. While the Church continued to promote monogamy as the ideal, it also recognised the challenges posed by social and economic factors influencing marriage and family life.
In the 20th century, the Catholic Church's code of canon law emphasised procreation and child-rearing as the primary ends of marriage, with mutual support and the remedy for concupiscence as secondary goals. However, the Church's teaching on marriage has continued to evolve, and in the 21st century, there is a growing sensitivity towards gay people and groups within the Church, even as official doctrine struggles to accommodate these shifts.
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Marriage rates and divorce
Changing Social Norms and Economic Factors:
The growth of cities, evolving relationships between sexes in social and industrial life, and economic factors have influenced marriage rates. In the past, it was common for "savage races" to marry much earlier, resulting in a smaller proportion of celibates. However, in recent centuries, the proportion of unmarried individuals has increased in the United States and Europe due to economic challenges associated with supporting a family and shifting social priorities.
Church Influence and Control:
The Catholic Church has played a significant role in shaping marriage practices over time. In 1563, the Council of Trent issued the decree Tametsi, seeking to impose control over the marriage process by setting strict conditions for what constituted a valid Catholic marriage. This decree was replaced by Ne Temere in 1907, which came into effect universally at Easter 1908. The Church's teachings on the superiority of virginity and celibacy over marriage have also evolved. While the early Church reinforced this idea, found in writers like Plato and Aristotle, it wasn't until 1184 that marriage became recognised as a sacrament by the Catholic Church.
Minimum Age Requirements:
The Catholic Church has set minimum age requirements for valid marriages, with 14 years for women and 16 years for men. These age requirements reflect a shift towards more structured and regulated marriage practices within the Church.
Divorce and Annulment:
The Catholic Church differentiates between annulment and divorce. Annulment is a declaration that a true marriage never existed, while divorce is the dissolution of a valid marriage. The overall divorce rate in America has been close to 50% of all marriages but has gradually declined over the past two decades. Factors such as education, age at marriage, religious affiliation, and pre-marital cohabitation can influence the risk of divorce. Teenage marriages, for example, are significantly more likely to end in divorce compared to marriages at older ages.
Interdenominational Marriage:
The Catholic Church recognises marriages between a Catholic and a non-Catholic as "mixed marriages." Specifically, a mixed marriage refers to a union between a Catholic baptised in the Catholic Church and a non-Catholic Christian, known as an interdenominational marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has historically viewed marriage as inferior to chastity, only recognizing it as a sacrament in 1184. In 1917, the Church's code of canon law stated that the primary purpose of marriage was procreation and the education of children. Today, the Church defines marriage as a lifelong partnership of the whole of life, of mutual and exclusive fidelity, established by mutual consent between one man and one woman."
The Catholic Church has historically emphasized the procreative aspect of marriage, viewing it as a means to "be fruitful and multiply." Over time, the Church has shifted its focus to include the mutual support and personal growth of the married couple. Today, the Church recognizes that marriage is a symbol of God's love and a way for individuals to overcome self-absorption and egoism.
The Catholic Church has traditionally opposed divorce, considering it a dissolution of marriage. While the Church grants annulments in certain cases, it differentiates between annulment and divorce, considering annulment as a finding that a true marriage never existed.
