| Marriage as a Psychological and Spiritual Relationship to Wholeness is about developing a new paradigm for understanding and living a Christian and fully human marriage. In the first chapter I explore a theology of ministry and the need for marriage ministry within the Roman Catholic Church despite its history of a clerically dominated hierarchy. In chapter two I present a theology of marriage based on scriptural metaphors of covenant and the wedding feast. I note that the symbolism of marital love and the wedding feast are used repeatedly in the Scriptures to help us grasp the depth of the marital relationship as a spiritual journey while serving as a sign to others of the constancy and wonder of God's love for humanity. In the third chapter I explore depth psychologist Carl Jung's concept of the archetype of the hierosgamos or sacred marriage. Jung emphasizes that all human psychological and hence spiritual growth occurs in developing a conscious relationship to self and others. He viewed marriage as a complex psychological relationship that is both extraordinarily demanding and richly rewarding. Marriage is a journey of many years that can lead to what Jung labels "individuation", a synonym for the process leading to psychological wholeness. Chapter Four is a manual developed for use as a model ministry for marriage by local churches and couples. The manual, Marriage Matters, incorporates the imagery of Scripture and Jungian insights into a practical and workable program for developing and enhancing the marital relationship from the days of courtship through the richness of mature years. Finally, in Chapter Five I offer a personal reflection on the journey of marriage using the Biblical account of the Emmaus story. This story emphasizes the encounter with a stranger by those on their journey, and how this encounter with the numinous provides the catalyst for new growth in our most personal of relationships, marriage. |
