Term Flashcards
(26 cards)
- Covenant:
a sacred and permanent bond established by God, marked by mutual self-gift and fidelity. Unlike a contract, which is based on exchange and can be broken, a covenant is about the total giving of persons and is indissoluble. Marriage is understood as a covenant that reflects God’s covenant with His people—especially Christ’s nuptial union with the Church (cf. Eph 5:21-33). This covenant is established by the spouses through free and mutual consent and elevated to a sacrament if both parties are baptized.
Sacrament
an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Marriage, as one of the seven sacraments, not only unites man and woman but also communicates divine grace to help them live out their vocation of love and parenthood. The sacrament sanctifies the couple and empowers them to be a visible sign of God’s love. It is a means of salvation and a witness to the world of God’s faithful love.
Consent
the internal act of the will by which a man and a woman mutually and irrevocably give themselves to each other to form a lifelong partnership. According to Western Canon Law (CIC 1057), consent makes marriage. It must be free (not coerced), informed, and intentional (open to permanence, fidelity, and procreation). Without proper consent, a marriage is invalid. Consent is expressed publicly during the wedding vows.
Performative Utterance:
In marriage, the words of consent (“I take you…” or “I do”) are not just descriptive but effective—they make the marriage real and sacramental. These words, combined with the intent and understanding of the couple, bring the marriage into being.
Impediment
a circumstance or condition defined by Church law that prevents a valid marriage. Impediments can be diriment (invalidating, such as consanguinity, prior bond, or holy orders) or prohibitive (making the marriage illicit but not invalid). Some can be dispensed (e.g., disparity of cult), while others (like a prior sacramental marriage) cannot. Proper knowledge of impediments is essential for preparing couples for marriage.
Bond
the spiritual and legal union formed between spouses when a valid marriage is consummated. In a sacramental marriage, this bond is indissoluble and lifelong (cf. Mark 10:9). The Church recognizes that this bond exists even in the absence of emotional unity or ongoing cohabitation. The bond can only be dissolved by death or, in some rare cases, by a declaration of nullity (if the marriage was invalid from the start).
Indissolubility
This is the Church’s teaching that marriage, once validly contracted and consummated, cannot be broken by any human power. It reflects God’s irrevocable covenant with humanity. This principle is not just an ideal but a requirement of the natural law and Gospel (cf. Mt 19:6). Indissolubility ensures that marriage is a total, faithful, and permanent union, and it protects the dignity of spouses and children.
Relation
marriage involves a personal relation of self-giving love between spouses. This relation is both physical and spiritual, and it grows over time through communication, shared experiences, and mutual sacrifice. The marital relation is also inherently social and ecclesial—it reflects and contributes to the Body of Christ.
Internal Forum
This refers to the private realm of conscience, especially within sacramental confession or spiritual direction. In complex marital cases (e.g., divorced and remarried individuals), the internal forum may be a setting where a priest helps discern moral responsibility or spiritual direction, though it cannot contradict the external canonical norms. Amoris Laetitia explores pastoral accompaniment in this forum
Annulment (Declaration of Nullity)
An annulment is not a “Catholic divorce” but a declaration by a Church tribunal that a valid marriage never existed due to a defect at the time of consent or a canonical impediment. Grounds may include lack of freedom, psychological incapacity, deception, or exclusion of essential elements (like openness to children). It respects the dignity of marriage by affirming that validity depends on proper conditions from the start.
Intimacy
a holistic communion encompassing emotional, spiritual, and physical closeness. It is not reducible to sexuality but includes trust, vulnerability, and shared life. True intimacy grows through mutual sacrifice, prayer, and communication. Pope John Paul II emphasized that intimacy is an expression of total self-gift and the “language of the body” properly ordered toward love and life.
“Empty Nest”:
This term refers to the phase of marriage after children leave home. It is a period of transition, often marked by rediscovery of the spousal relationship. It may bring grief, freedom, or renewed intimacy. Pastoral care encourages couples to see this time as an opportunity for deepened companionship, service, or spiritual growth. It is one of the most likely times couples will seek separation or deal with difficulty.
“Marital Banking”:
A concept from relationship psychology adapted in pastoral care: every positive interaction (e.g., kind words, forgiveness, quality time) is like making a deposit in a “marital bank.” When conflicts arise, couples can draw on that reserve of trust and goodwill. This metaphor helps couples develop habits that sustain love over time. Must be taken with a grain of salt as Dr. Grabowski has mentioned—this is not a clinical term, but one developed by a
States of Life
The Church recognizes various stable vocations through which Christians live out their baptismal call: marriage, priesthood, religious life, and dedicated single life. Each state has its own graces and responsibilities. Marriage is a natural and sacramental state oriented to family life, while celibacy and consecrated life witness to the eschatological Kingdom.
Celibacy
Celibacy is the voluntary renunciation of marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of God. In the Latin Church, it is required for priests. It IS NOT chastity or continence Theologically, it signifies total devotion to God and eschatological witness to the resurrection, where there is no marriage (cf. Mt 22:30). It is a gift, not a rejection of sexuality.
Continence
refers to abstinence from sexual relations whether secular or religious. Within marriage, it may be practiced for spiritual or health-related reasons. Outside marriage, it is required of all the faithful. In the context of celibacy, it is permanent; in the context of chastity, it reflects the proper integration of sexuality within one’s vocation.
Lust
a disordered desire for sexual pleasure detached from the dignity of the person and the unitive/procreative meaning of sex. It treats others as objects rather than persons. The Catechism teaches that lust is a sin against chastity and can distort our capacity for authentic love (CCC 2351).
Pornification
A modern cultural phenomenon where pornography and its attitudes become normalized, influencing how people view the body, sex, and relationships. It deforms love into consumption, undermines intimacy, and especially harms young people. It is both a personal sin and a societal distortion of the “language of the body.”
Sexual Harassment
Any unwelcome sexual conduct, verbal or physical, that creates a hostile or degrading environment. It violates the dignity of the person and is a sin against justice and charity. The Church upholds the responsibility to protect all people, especially in workplaces and ecclesial institutions.
Pedophilia
A psychological disorder involving sexual attraction to prepubescent children. It is condemned unequivocally by the Church and society. It gravely harms victims and has caused profound scandal when committed by clergy or covered up. It requires legal, psychological, and spiritual responses.
Clerical Sexual Abuse:
A betrayal of trust wherein clergy abuse their spiritual or ecclesial authority to exploit others sexually, especially minors. It is both a moral and criminal offense. The Church has committed to accountability, transparency, and victim care in response to this grave sin and scandal.
Sexual Orientation:
Refers to the pattern of one’s emotional and sexual attraction. The Church teaches that while same-sex orientation is not sinful in itself, acting upon it through sexual behavior is morally disordered (CCC 2357). All people, regardless of orientation, are to be treated with dignity and called to chastity. This is important to note though that psychiatry has flip-flopped between orientation and attraction. No conclusive study has proved the existence of sexual orientation, but rather a fluid attraction. This upholds the idea that any individual is never stuck or assigned any sexuality.
“Objective Disorder”
A term from the Catechism describing inclinations that are contrary to the moral law, such as same-sex attraction. The term aims to express that certain behaviors or desires are not ordered toward the fullness of human flourishing as revealed by God. In the context of class, it is a reference to an attraction to anyone non-complimentary via natural law, same sex attraction, attraction to children, etc.
Law of Gradualness
A pastoral principle recognizing that individuals grow in holiness over time. It encourages patience, accompaniment, and formation, without denying the moral ideal. It is distinguished from “gradualness of the law,” which would wrongly suggest God’s law changes or accommodates sin. This gradualness of the law is the idea that couples who are living in mortal sin should be exempt from certain penalties of sin as it is “too difficult” to follow Church teaching for some.
