Marriage and Christian Life

Marriage and Christian Life is an introduction to the theology of Christian marriage. It is a work in systematic theology, articulating the meaning of marriage from the perspective of the Roman Catholic intellectual tradition. As a sacrament, marriage is salvific, a means of entering into the death and resurrection of Christ, the event of the New Covenant by which all are saved. It is the redemptive nature of this spousal love that is revealed in the New Covenant that orders the love of the husband and wife. In this love, the true meaning of human sexuality is revealed. Designed to describe the meaning of marriage as a sacrament, author Daniel Hauser consciously contrasts the Catholic view of sexuality with contemporary views of marriage and sexuality. Using the teachings of Pope John Paul II on sexuality, and Fr. Donald Keefe's "Covenant Theology" as the foundation for developing the theology of marriage and the corresponding understanding of human theology, Dr. Hauser presents a theology developed to support the Christian view of marriage.

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 Marriage and Family in Today's World: The Decline of Marriage and the Family; In Defense of Marriage and Family; Catholics in America; The Catholic World View and Modern Trends; Summary Chapter 5 The Christian View of the World: Faith and the Christian View of the World; Faith, Christ and the Trinity: Christian Faith and the Trinity; Christ and Creation; Christ and the Order of Redemption; Christ, Mary and the New Covenant; Faith and t Chapter 6 The Nature of the Sacraments: Christ and the Sacraments; Worship and the Sacraments; Teachings About the Sacraments: An Outward Sign; Cause and Effect; The Sacramental Economy and the Church; The Eschatological Nature of the Sacrament; Summary Chapter 7 Marriage as a Sacrament: Marriage and the Order of Creation; Marriage and Salvation History: The Old Covenant; New Covenant; Marriage- Sign and Effect: The Indissolubility of Marriage; The Goods of Marriage; Marriage as a Vocation; Summa Chapter 8 Human Sexuality as the Basis for Marriage: The Biblical Interpretation of Human Sexuality; The Meaning of the Human Body: The Body and Creation; The Body and Incarnation; The Body and the Resurrection; Male as Male and Female: The Significa Chapter 9 Pope John Paul II on the Meaning of Man as Male and Female: Marriage and the Economy of Salvation; John Paul II and the Theology of the Body; Marriage as a Sacrament; The Language of the Body; Summary Chapter 10 Conclusion Chapter 11 Bibliography Chapter 12 Index Chapter 13 Author's Biographical Sketch