Love Sexuality And The Sacrament Of Marriage

Two essays "Love and Sexuality in the Image of Divine Love" and "The Sacrament of Marriage: The Orthodox Service" introduce the reader to the Orthodox perspective on this all-important issue. With extensive excerpts from twenty-two Church fathers and modern Orthodox theologians, ranging from Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa to Alexander Elchaninov and Kallistos Ware.

At a time in human history when women and men are more concerned about interpersonal relationships and when there is an extensive questioning of the specific relationship between a woman and a man in marriage, Marriage and Sacrament offers an understanding of how to live out the Christ-meaning and Church-meaning of that relationship so that, by living martially and sacramentally, couples can reveal to the world and to the Church the deeper meaning of all human love. The book examines the relationship among love, marriage, and sacrament; it examines the meanings of the sacrament of marriage, its biblical basis, its history and what happens when it comes to an end; it examines sexual love, indissoluble love, fruitful love, and ecumenical love in relationship to both marriage and sacrament. Marriage and Sacrament is an indispensable resource for pastoral ministers and ministry students as well as all who contemplate or are now partners in marriage.

The Orthodox Church is one of the three major branches of Christianity. There are over 300 million adherents throughout the world. The Orthodox Church is a fellowship of independent churches, which split form the Roman Church over the question of papal supremacy in 1054. The Orthodox adherents include people in: Greece, Georgia, Russia, and Serbia. There are an estimated one million members in the United States. This Advanced book explains the basic principles of Orthodox Christianity and describes in detail the holidays observed by the Orthodox Church. In addition, relevant book literature is presented in bibliographic form with easy access provided by title, subject and author indexes.

"This is a love story. It is the story of sexual love, the love of man and woman united in the mystery of a sacrament which joins them in one flesh." On this compelling note, Joseph and Lois Bird begin a detailed and sympathetic treatment of the Christian concept of sexuality in marriage. The authors examine--candidly and explicitly--the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimension of the marital union as well as the responsibilities of marriage. A mature, comprehensive guide to the subject of human sexuality, The Freedom of Sexual Love covers all aspects of love-making with wholesomeness and reverence. The authors emphasize the inseparability of spirit and flesh in Christian marriage, stressing the involvement of the total personality. Thus, they consider fully the psychological and spiritual meaning found in sexual relations and the nature of man and woman as they interact as husband and wife. Throughout the book the authors stress that sexuality permeates every aspect of the human relationship in marriage and there is a need for the marriage partners to understand this fully. Drawing upon the countless experiences of the many couples they have counseled, and especially upon their own marriage, the authors have succeeded in portraying the marital union as a commitment in love. The Freedom of Sexual Love is an invaluable reading experience for anyone married, about to be married, or contemplating the sacrament of marriage.

At a time in human history when women and men are more concerned about interpersonal relationships and when there is an extensive questioning of the specific relationship between a woman and a man in marriage, Marriage and Sacrament offers an understanding of how to live out the Christ-meaning and Church-meaning of that relationship so that, by living martially and sacramentally, couples can reveal to the world and to the Church the deeper meaning of all human love. The book examines the relationship among love, marriage, and sacrament; it examines the meanings of the sacrament of marriage, its biblical basis, its history and what happens when it comes to an end; it examines sexual love, indissoluble love, fruitful love, and ecumenical love in relationship to both marriage and sacrament. Marriage and Sacrament is an indispensable resource for pastoral ministers and ministry students as well as all who contemplate or are now partners in marriage.

While retaining the basic structure of the original book, this new edition has been thoroughly updated in light of some official Catholic documents and other theological writings dealing with sexual morality that have appeared since 1986. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II's encyclicals Veritatis splendor and Evangelium vitae, and the 1986 and 1992statements of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on pastoral care of homosexuals and the issue of discrimination against them are among the more recent magisterial publications considered in this text. This edition also contains several new sections: the misuses of sex (adultery, pornography, prostitution, sexual violence); four rationales for viewing a committed love relationship as the only appropriate context for sexual intercourse; marriage as a sacrament and marital sexuality and love as embodiments of commitment, intimacy, and passion; and public policy and the civil rights of homosexuals. This edition also includes an expanded discussion of topics such as sexism, sexually transmitted diseases especially HIV/AIDS and the moral questions raised by new family-planning methods (Norplant, Depo-Provera), RU-486, postcoital hormonal interventions against pregnancy, the start of human life, and abortion. Vincent J. Genovesi, SJ, received his PhD in Christian ethics from Emory University. He is a professor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. His articles have appeared in such journals as The Thomist, The Way, America, and Review for Religious.

Love, sex, and marriage are changing faster than ever before in human history. The current tidal wave of social changes will continue into the next century, and we will have to adapt our sexual values and relationships to these accelerating changes. These 22 honest, authentic stories tell of the unconventional paths pioneering church leaders and spiritually-aware women and men have taken in their quest to link their sexuality with their spiritual needs. Some might see in these unorthodox explorations only tales of promiscuous couplings. But these are not stories of wild thrill-seekers. These are tales told from the core of their being about their deeply felt need for genuine, responsible love and intimacy within a spiritual context. Their journeys do not promise paradise or instant happiness, as popular magazines do with recipes for lifelong marital bliss and fiery passion. These sojourners have much to teach us, even when we decide that this or that path is not for us. Their individual paths are not nearly as important as the simple message of God and Eros being inseparable that underlies journey. God and Eros can come together in many different relationships. And they must come together if we want to nourish and fulfill the divine spark at the core of our being. These women and men challenge our assumptions and our willingness to adapt to our radically changing world.