"Till Death Do Us Part"

Marriage is one of the sacraments of the living. The sacramental grace it brings benefits both the man and the woman united in the nuptial bond in order that they may nourish each other in mutual love and fidelity. Likewise, their offspring enjoys it as the grace of the sacrament is generally for the well-being of the entire family through the spouses blessed by the Lord.

Marriage brings together two parties in an exclusive contract. By the exchange of "I do's" the man and the woman bind themselves to each other for the rest of their life together. Accordingly, the bond of marriage continues to exist for as long as both spouses are living. When anyone of them is gone, the bond is broken. As a result, the surviving spouse becomes free to marry again, if he or she wishes so.

The phrase "till death do us part" points to the legal termination of the marriage contract. But does death completely end the relationship of the spouses? As a sacrament, that is, a sign, marriage reflects the love of Christ for His Church. Jesus loves the Church, His Bride, without interruption, giving up His life for it in the process. In the sacramental sense, the marital love of the spouses for each other reflects and should reflect the mystical love of Christ for the Church. Ideally, it should go beyond the grave.

Some widows and widowers have chosen to remarry, indubitably not without valid reasons and serious considerations. Remarriage, however, does not necessarily mean forgetting, much less not loving anymore the former spouse. It is hoped that the newly established marital relationship is a prolongation of the former spousal love interrupted by death, that love that reflects Christ's enduring love for His Church.

-Father Winston O. Carrera, OSJ

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