Particular attention will be given to the scriptural foundations of this sacrament to underpin an understanding of how the Catholic Church discerned the sacramentality of marriage within the historical process of the development of Christian doctrine. More recent teaching on the sacrament of marriage from the Second Vatican Council, Popes and theologians will be presented, together with relevant canonical questions and the relationship between Christian marriage and civil marriage. Contemporary pastoral and ecumenical issues, such as inter-Church marriages and preparation for marriage in a secular context, will be presented within this wider sacramental perspective.

Prerequisites:

• second level: one level of Systematic Theology
• third level: two levels of Systematic Theology

Requirements:

2 hours per week


Assessment:

• second level: one 3,000 word essay - 100%
• third level: one 4,000 word essay - 100%

Bibliography:

• Elliott, Peter J. What God Has Joined: The Sacramentality of Marriage. New York: Alba House, 1990.
• John Paul II. Familiaris consortio. Apostolic Exhortation. 1982.
• ———. The Theology of the Body. Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 1997.
• Kasper, Walter. Theology of Christian Marriage. Translated by David Smith. London: Burns & Oates, 1980.
• Paul VI. Humanae vitae. Encyclical Letter. 1968.
• Pius XI. Casti connubii. Encyclical Letter. 1930.
• Olsen, Glenn W., ed. Christian Marriage: A Historical Study. New York: Crossroad, 2001.
• Schillebeeckx, Edward. Marriage: Human Reality and Saving Mystery. 2 vols. Translated by N. D. Smith. London: Sheed & Ward, 1965.
• Scola, Angelo. “The Nuptial Mystery at the Heart of the Church.” Communio 25 (1998): 630–62.