Arcanum (Catholic encyclical)

On February 10, 1880, Pope Leo XIII. the encyclical Arcanum divinae sapientiae with the subtitle " On Christian Marriage " as a result of the Kulturkampf. The title refers to the first words of the encyclical ( " The mysterious Council conclusion of divine wisdom " ) begins with " Arcanum divinae sapientiae consilium ".

The Catholic teaching on marriage

The Pope urged to defend the institution of marriage, which is a "divine mystery ", against an increasing secularization and omnipotence of the state. The state began a massive namely, to fight against the sole responsibility of the church in marriage issues, and wanted to highlight the civil marriage as the only important and necessary. In contrast, kept the Pope. Marriage as a Sacrament under stand alone ecclesiastical authority, and marriage as a contract could not be separated from the sacrament. To the institution of marriage so it went and to the right of the Church to be defended, not so much about questions of marital partnership.

The sacrament of marriage

So it is, then in his encyclical that marriage is a sacrament, therefore, because it was a sacred sign, which causes the grace and was allegorically. This parable but this Note will expressed by that bond of intimate union, the husband and wife to each other and that is nothing other than the marriage. It follows that any lawful marriage among Christians is a sacrament in and of itself.

Other doctrinal statements to marriage

The Church's Magisterium always attaches importance to prove the continuity of the doctrinal statements on marriage and society. It was particularly the statements of Popes Leo XIII Until the Second Vatican Council. ( as with this encyclical ), and used his successors. The Second Vatican Council summarized the discussions of - and building on this encyclical - on "The Family: vital cell of society " Gaudium et Spes in together, and the 50th anniversary of " Arcanum divinae sapientiae " wrote Pius XI. December 31, 1930, the encyclical " Casti connubii ". Later followed by Pope Paul VI. the encyclical " Humanae Vitae " and Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation " Familiaris Consortio ".