Marriage and Vatican II

Compare and contrast the Church's teachings from Vatican Two on marriage with current trends/perceptions of marriage in society (the media, politics, etc). Today it seems that, especially with the argument for same sex marriage, people are starting to ask more questions about the definition of marriage. While some people reaffirm the sanctity of marriage, such as the Church and Vatican, some ask just when it started being considered sacred. They point out that marriage in medieval times was more of a property exchange than a holy union. In addition, they point out that an imbalance of power was usually prevalent-- whether in age difference or female inferiority. The Church, however, seems to be unwavering in its belief that marriage should be an equal and loving union between a man and a woman. Marriage, according to the Vatican, is a "vocation." I think that that is an interesting way to look at marriage, because I feel that in our modern world most people do not view marriage as such. "Vocation" is considered a cheesy term by a lot of people. Also, I think a lot of people today view marriage as something that happens to everyone eventually. Vocation, however, implies that is a calling to live one's life in a certain way, and one could also be called to religious life or single life. I think that this is an interesting perspective, since most people do not seem to consider marriage a vocation. The article also says "Conjugal love is not a fleeting event, but the patient project of a lifetime." If one subscribes to this belief, the media's portrayal of "love at first sight" may not be entirely accurate. In movies and TV shows falling in love is often portrayed as instantaneous and unexpected. Think of the popular scene of seeing someone from across a room full of people. Is this really true love? It may be physical or romantic intrigue, but is it automatically deep love upon first sight? I think, however, that a point that many people can agree upon, whether Christian or not, is that the marriage should "grow and ripen" with time. I think that if you were to interview long-married couples, the vast majority would attest that their relationship has changed since they first met. Love is dynamic, as are people; as people change over time and age, so will their relationship. I think that this point of Vatican II is something that most people will agree on. Article: http://foryourmarriage.org/what-did-vatican-ii-say-about-marriage/