Marriage and Family

Marriage is an original gift from God to humanity. Although sin entered the world damaging the marital relationship, this gift was not lost but redeemed by Christ and raised to a sacrament (see Eph. 5:28-32; see also Mtt. 19:4-6). Sacred Scripture proclaims that God created humanity in "His image" as "male and female" (see Gen. 1:27). So unique is this relationship that the marital union makes of the husband and wife "one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Procreation, Scripture teaches, is a gift from God (Gen. 1:28). When spouses conceive new life, they participate in the Lord God's creative power. This is an awesome privilege and sacred responsibility!

— U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan
This Pastoral Letter on marriage was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2009. It provides a summary of Church teaching on marriage as a natural institution and as a sacrament.

Married Love and the Gift of Life     |     En Español
This document of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops summarizes Church teaching on marriage, conjugal love and responsible parenthood in an easy to read question and answer format.