1613). Jesus, however, took this contract, this exchange of marital consent between man and woman, and made the contract a conveyor of grace. Just some of our awesome clients tat we had pleasure to work with. https://javascript.internet.com --> Imprimatur: Leo A. Pursley, D.D., Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Can marriage succeed with a partner whos much older or younger? Theology 11 - Chapter 9 Matrimony mid-15c., "of or pertaining to marriage, connubial, nuptial," from Old French matrimonial (14c.) Some cultures allow an individual to have more than one spouse at the same time. Indeed, because of its close relationship with God who is a partner to the reproductive act, sex is not merely something goodit is something sacred and holy. 2. It is no wonder, then, that Christ made marriage a sacrament. In this common type of marriage, the couple desires to be friends for life. D. Harper. The Church does have the power, under very special circumstances, to dissolve a marriage that was not a sacramental marriage (for example, the marriage of two unbaptized persons when one of the parties has later been baptized), and to dissolve a sacramental marriage that never has been consummated. In societies with arranged marriages, the almost universal custom is that someone acts as an intermediary, or matchmaker.