Day 225: Total Fidelity in Marriage

It can seem difficult, even impossible, to bind oneself for life to another human being. This makes it all the more important to proclaim the Good News that God loves us with a definitive and irrevocable love, that married couples share in this love, that it supports and sustains them, and that by their own faithfulness they can be witnesses to God's faithful love. Spouses who, with God's grace, give this witness, often in very difficult conditions, deserve the gratitude and support of the ecclesial community. CCC 1648

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the necessity of complete fidelity within marriage. In other words, no persons "on the side" but a total commitment emotionally and in conjugal relations to one's spouse. That's for both husbands and wives.

The Catechism Compendium summarizes Church teaching on what sinful behavior can mar the fidelity owed to one's spouse:

Adultery and polygamy are opposed to the sacrament of matrimony because they contradict the equal dignity of man and woman and the unity and exclusivity of married love. Other sins include the deliberate refusal of one’s procreative potential which deprives conjugal love of the gift of children and divorce which goes against the indissolubility of marriage. (#347)

There are unfortunately times when a situation arises that necessitate spouse separating, but if the marriage is valid it still cannot be undone. As the Catechism Companion, Vol II notes:

In our broken world, in a regime of sin, circumstances such as violence can make it so that spouses cannot stay in the same home with each other. Then it is acceptable in the eyes of the Church for the husband and wife to move away from each other, but they remain a married couple. Each person is called to continually live out his or her vocation, so even if a husband and wife are no longer living in the same place, they are not free to pursue another relationship or marriage with someone else. (p. 214) 

Unfortunately, some get divorced and civilly remarry others even though their first marriage is valid. Because this is seen as contravening God's law, such persons are not allowed to partake of the Eucharist, "exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities," or receive Absolution through the Sacrament of Penance "until repented for having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who are committed to living in complete continence" (CCC 1650).