Description
Book SynopsisMarriage 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.
Trade ReviewHauser's vision is refreshingly positive and modern in that it emphasizes the beauty of marriage as a religious vocation, something traditional treatises on marriage have not always done. He writes, 'At the heart of marriage is the call to respond to thelove of God. In the process of responding to God's love, I give myself to God and others in order to come to myself' (xvi). Throughout the book, he emphasizes the religious significance of marriage, defining it as 'the means of preaching the gospel and bringing others to salvation, giving life spiritually and physically' (189). Relying on the theology of John Paul II, he claims that true freedom is not doing what we want but living the truth given by God (23-24), while true love is 'dying to oneself for the good of another' (86). This is what Christian marriage is really all about. Unlike many theologians writing in this area, Hauser offers a thorough treatment of the nature of faith in Christ and the Church as the context for thinking about marriage as a sacrament (chap. 2) and a strong argument for the salvific nature of the sacraments and their place at the absolute center of Christian life (chap. 3). Crucial to his view of marriage is his understanding of the role of Christ in salvation history. Ha -- Julie Hanlon Rubio * The Thomist *
Hauser's vision is refreshingly positive and modern in that it emphasizes the beauty of marriage as a religious vocation, something traditional treatises on marriage have not always done. He writes, 'At the heart of marriage is the call to respond to the love of God. In the process of responding to God's love, I give myself to God and others in order to come to myself' (xvi). Throughout the book, he emphasizes the religious significance of marriage, defining it as 'the means of preaching the gospel and bringing others to salvation, giving life spiritually and physically' (189). Relying on the theology of John Paul II, he claims that true freedom is not doing what we want but living the truth given by God (23-24), while true love is 'dying to oneself for the good of another' (86). This is what Christian marriage is really all about. Unlike many theologians writing in this area, Hauser offers a thorough treatment of the nature of faith in Christ and the Church as the context for thinking about marriage as a sacrament (chap. 2) and a strong argument for the salvific nature of the sacraments and their place at the absolute center of Christian life (chap. 3). Crucial to his view of marriage is his understanding of the role of Christ in salvation history. Hauser provocatively asserts that the only real reason to get married is to be saved (83). Avoiding an overly spiritual description of this primary arena of salvation, he affirms the unity of body and soul in human persons and shows that it is not apart from but 'through our sexuality that we serve God' (88). His insistence that 'we are our bodies' (89), and his claim that, because of our sinfulness, we need to rely on sacraments and each other for our salvation, are helpful correctives to overly romantic and spiritualized visions of marriage that still command attention. -- Julie Hanlon Rubio, St. Louis University * The Thomist *
Table of ContentsChapter 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
