The spirituality of marriage after the second Vatican Council

Abstract

Theological reflection on a spirituality of marriage needs “confidential conversations with those who [are] immediately affected, that is to say, with committed married couples.” This prevents reflecting theologians from idealizing marriage as well as from being divorced from the reality of everyday marital life. The following reflections made by the author of this paper, who as a religious priest follows a celibate life, have been nourished by many conversations with married couples. The personal reflections of married faithful in the light of faith are a genuine source of moral knowledge; and supplement reflections on an abstract essence or nature.