Examination Questions for May 2011

Sacramentology IV Order and Marriage

In the examination, three questions from the following will appear on your paper and you will be requested to answer one of them.

1. Write briefly about the perception of marriage in the Old Testament communities. (6) What did Jesus say about marriage? (8) What prophetic words of Jesus give us the origin of the Sacrament of Marriage? (8) Explain philia love and agapaic love. (10) Give reasons why pastors should generally encourage those who are cohabitating to marry. (12)

2. What contributions were made by the following to our thinking on marriage: The Book of Genesis (2), The Prophet Hosea (3), The Gospel of Luke (5), Paul of Tarsus (10), Augustine of Hippo (6), Pope Nicholas I (2), The Council of Verona (2), The Council of Trent (4), and The Second Vatican Council (10).

3. Why did the Church have reservations about declaring marriage a sacrament? (12) Give the reasons why the Church eventually accepted marriage as a sacrament? (12) Explain briefly the following: banns of marriage (5), clandestine marriages (3), canonical form of marriage (5) and marriage as a domestic Church (7).

4. Why is Christian marriage a sacrament? (3) Describe some essential positive values in Catholic marriage (8). Write about marital covenant and marital contract (12). Discuss the role of faith in the sacrament of marriage (6). As a pastor, why would you encourage those baptised, who are engaged to get married, but are not practicing Catholics and may have little or no ‘faith,’ to marry sacramentally? (15)

5. Write briefly about: Marriage in Gaudium et Spes 48-50 (20), Eph 5:32, Tametsi, the Pauline Privilege, the Petrine Privilege, marriage separation, and marital support (4 each).

6. Describe some ways in which a couple experience the grace and invitation of sacramental marriage (10). In the context of the particular marital values the Church espouses, write about the following: co-habitation, polygamy, and civil divorce with remarriage (18). What is the Catholic Church’s attitude towards people living in these situations? (6) Note briefly the essential elements in marital consent (10).

7. Write about a marriage preparation course, in particular focusing on the purpose of the course (8), the manner of conducting it (6) and its content (30).

8. Explain the difference between the marital contract and the marital sacrament (4). Why do some theologians propose that the Church should separate them? (4) Give reasons against having civil divorce. (16) The Catholic Church staunchly defends the indissolubility of marriage and prohibits divorce and remarriage, except in exceptional circumstances. Give reasons for her position (8). Why do some Catholic theologians suggest that the Catholic Church should soften her position regarding the indissolubility of sacramental marriage? (12)