Marriage as a Vocation

Here is a little tid-bit about me that very few people know. I've been married twice. The first time was on July 2, 1993 when I married the most beautiful woman in the world. The second time was on or about April 17, 2000. That is the day that Abby and I had our marriage blessed and it became a sacramental marriage. You see the first time, we got married by a judge at the Platte County Courthouse. According to the Catholic Church, it was not a valid marriage until it was blessed. (So technically---I could have gotten an annulment!!)

This isn't about how confusing the rules and regulations the Church has about marriage can be. It's about how the Church holds marriage to be a sacrament and a vocation.

Marriage is one of seven sacraments. Marriage, along with Holy Orders, are two of the sacraments that are directed in the salvation of others. This means that marriage and holy orders (the priesthood) "confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God." (From paragraph 1534 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church) Marriage and Holy Orders causes a permanent change in a person. When two people are married they are sealed by God and this seal is unbreakable.

On that day in 2000, when my marriage was blessed by the church, Abby and I were no longer two separate people. We were one. Adam speaks of this in Genesis when he says, "flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. " Our marriage was now our vocation and our roles in life was to assist the other to get to heaven.

Everything I do, must be geared towards helping my wife get to heaven. Her role is to get me towards heaven. Because we are one everything we do should be geared towards making the other person happy. I should be more willing to sever a limb than to cause harm to my wife. Every decision in our lives are geared at serving God and each other. God may allow us to struggle. God may give us challenges. But God will not place any obstacle in our way that would cause irreparable damage to our marriage. If there is an obstacle in a married couples way that would cause damage like that then it is placed there by one of the spouses and not by God.

Marriage isn't easy. Marriage requires sacrifice. Marriage isn't all about games. I have no doubt that marriage is my vocation and that God has blessed me with my soul mate.