The Evolution of the Concept of Marriage in the Catholic Church and Upcoming Challenges

With regard to the concept of “marriage” and “family” in early Christianity, it is clarified that these concepts have undergone sweeping changes from the Jewish context to Jesus Christ and different readings by Paul and Agustin, as theologians and interpreters. They introduced the concept of marriage into the theology realm, in such a way that the common concept of marriage and family in Judaism and early Christianity was mixed with of the love relationship between Christ and church; then in Middle Ages, Catholic Church emphasized further on the theological and supernatural aspects of these concepts. But the Church which had ignored the Law, added rigid Canon law to it and created many challenges for Christians. After the second Vatican council, Catholic Church, should have contrived to take some measures for confronting these challenges and preserving Canon law and the community of believers. Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis had more efforts than the others to find a solution for this problem. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, this research illustrates how the concept of marriage is enriched by adding metaphorical and sacramental meaning to it and by extremism in the laws of Catholic Church, and shows its consequences.