Foundations of Catholic Marriage and Morality

Vocabulary flashcards covering the sacramental theology of Catholic marriage, marriage preparation requirements, sexual ethics, family life, and Church teachings on divorce and annulment.

Marriage

A faithful, lifelong union of a baptized person and a baptized woman committed to loving each other forever and being open to the gift of children, serving as a sacrament at the service of communion.

Natural Law

The moral law that can be understood through our intellect and the use of reason; our God-given instinct to be in right relationship with God, other people, the world, and ourselves.

Indissolubility

The property of the marriage covenant stating it cannot be broken or dissolved, sealed by the Holy Spirit and becoming absolutely unbreakable once consummated.

Submit (in Ephesians 5)

To 'be under the mission of'; referring to the wife's mission to follow her husband's lead as he loves her as Christ loves the Church.

Sacrament

An outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.

Mixed Marriage

A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic.

Disparity of Cult

A marriage between a baptized Catholic and a non-baptized person.

Law of the Gift

The principle that a person can only find themselves by making a sincere, total, and free gift of themselves to another.

Self-donation

The total, irrevocable, and free gift of oneself to their spouse.

Four Marks of Marriage

The essential qualities summarizing consent and Church intention for marriage: free, total, faithful, and fruitful.

Rite

Not merely a legal contract, but a sacred, public, and liturgical act.

Liturgy

The official, public, and sacred action where the couple's consent is sealed by God and integrated into the prayers of the Church.

Domestic Church

The Christian family as a communion of persons and a place where all members grow in relationship with God, unite in prayer, and practice living virtues, serving as an image of the Trinity.

Icon

A symbol pointing to a deeper, invisible reality reflecting Christ's love for us.

Chastity

The virtue by which people are able to successfully and healthfully integrate their sexuality into their total person; recognized as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Near Occasion of Sin

An occasion or situation where a person may be tempted to act upon a sinful desire.

Sin of Scandal

Any word or behavior that causes another person to sin or damages their spiritual integrity.

Contraception

The deliberate attempt to interfere with the creation of new life as a result of sexual intercourse.

Abortion

The deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn child.

Natural Family Planning (NFP)

A morally acceptable way to time pregnancies based on the observation of a woman's naturally occurring times of fertility and infertility.

Creighton Model

A method of Natural Family Planning that relies on the observations and characteristics of a woman's cervical mucus throughout a cycle using charting codes and sticker colors.

Marquette Method

A method of Natural Family Planning where a woman takes urine tests to examine levels of estrogen and LH to determine ovulation.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

A method used in tracking fertility where a woman takes her temperature at the same time every morning.

Divorce

A civil lawsuit to end a marriage, considered in the Catechism as a grave offense against natural law.

Legal Separation

An arrangement that does not end a marriage, but allows for legal orders of living, children's rights, spousal support, property, and related matters.

Dissolution

An arrangement where spouses come together with mutual agreement to end their marriage.

Annulment

A declaration by the Church that a marriage is null and void, meaning it never existed as a valid sacramental union; also known as a declaration of nullity.

Convalidation

A ceremony that validates a civil marriage in the Catholic Church.