Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 141.  Wed  9-18-91  5:37
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Daniel Lo
 Subject: Marriage

³ I just read the message on marriage to Jeff Stevens... A long one...
³  what is the point of batisiem(sp?),  why is it that a marriage has the
³ words until death do we part?  Why ARE WE not married in heaven?  If god
³ put us together, why are not married
³  in heaven still
 
Dear Daniel,
 
Orthodox and Catholic Christians and some Protestants hold that
marriage is one of the sacraments of the New Covenant.  Since baptism
is the first of the sacraments, no other sacrament can be validly
received by Christians without prior baptism.  This is the "point" of
mentioning baptism in treating of Christian marriage.
 
We teach that marriages among non-Christians are valid but not
sacramental.
 
Christians have always believed that the death of one of the parties
leaves the other free to contract another marriage.  Marriage is "an
institution for the present rather than the future age" (see Harper's
Bible Dictionary, page 609; Mark 12:25; 1 Cor. 7:8).  You ask, "Why
are we not married in heaven?"  Marriage has two purposes of equal
standing which cannot be separated:  1) the personal union and
fulfillment of the partners; 2) the perpetuation of the human race
through having children.  The second purpose cannot be achieved after
death.  Therefore, death dissolves the marriage.
 
                                    Sincerely in Christ,
                                    Father Mateo