Is an unbelieving spouse saved through her believing spouse?

[Dave_B]

Hi there, do you know the official Catholic position regarding sactification of unbelieving husband or wife? Thanks for your help.

“Tthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband” 1 Cor 7:14

 

[Evan]

It does not SAVE, but it sanctifies. It makes the marriage blessed by God.

From the Catechism on Marriage

1638 “From a valid marriage arises a bond between the spouses which by its very nature is perpetual and exclusive; furthermore, in a Christian marriage the spouses are strengthened and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and the dignity of their state by a special sacrament.”

and

1641 “By reason of their state in life and of their order, [Christian spouses] have their own special gifts in the People of God.” This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple’s love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they “help one another to attain holiness in their married life and in welcoming and educating their children.”

1642 Christ is the source of this grace. “Just as of old God encountered his people with a covenant of love and fidelity, so our Savior, the spouse of the Church, now encounters Christian spouses through the sacrament of Matrimony.” Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to “be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ,” and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. In the joys of their love and family life he gives them here on earth a foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb:

Salvation is based on your actions (See Mt 25) and no-one can make you believe and follow Christ.

 

[ChrisCath]

Hi there, do you know the official Catholic position regarding sactification of unbelieving husband or wife? Thanks for your help.

“Tthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband” 1 Cor 7:14

Is it possible?
I would say “yes”.

[BIBLEDRB]1 Corinthians 7:14-16[/BIBLEDRB]
Husband and wife save each other.

[BIBLEDRB]Luke 5:19-25[/BIBLEDRB]
Both a physical and a spiritual healing, due to the faith of others.

Is it likely?
That, I can’t answer.

 

[jcrichton]

Hi there, do you know the official Catholic position regarding sactification of unbelieving husband or wife? Thanks for your help.

“Tthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband” 1 Cor 7:14

There’s no Salvation through proxy!

The reason why the unBeliever could gain Salvation is through the Believer’s witnessing Christ in his/her conviction, devotion, and Christian life.

…this, of course, was specially necessary during the inception of the Church since both Jews and Gentiles were converting to Christianity (Fellowship in Christ).

…however, I’ve noticed that in our times people continue to yoke themselves with both non-Catholic Christians, Jews, and non-Believers… they cite St. Paul as the reason for their hope… however, as that old “God sent her/him to me,” there’s that other passage where St. Paul cautions that Christians should not seek to be unevenly yoked (romantic relationship with non-Christians)…

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

Is it possible?
I would say “yes”.

[BIBLEDRB]1 Corinthians 7:14-16[/BIBLEDRB]
Husband and wife save each other.

[BIBLEDRB]Luke 5:19-25[/BIBLEDRB]
Both a physical and a spiritual healing, due to the faith of others.

Is it likely?
That, I can’t answer.

…actually, the Faith in others can move God to Bless by proxy; note that the man was not Granted Salvation but physical healing; as it was common to base decease on a state of impurity (sin) Jesus would often refer to forgivenss of the sin of the subject in question… this of course does not equate to Salvation since He would usually add “go, and sin no more.”

An excellent example of this are the ten lepers where only the one that returned thanking and praising God obtained both physical and spiritual healing–and it was his personal “faith” that gained him his spiritual status… the other nine had to contend with only the physical healing.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[lucklove]

http://www.discounthotelbook.com

 

[Uzziah1]

Hi there, do you know the official Catholic position regarding sactification of unbelieving husband or wife? Thanks for your help.

“Tthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband” 1 Cor 7:14

I think that Paul is nolt proposing a sacramental event – a ticket to Heaven because of the marital vow – but rather describing something which tends to be true in the course of marital life, but which a bad person can war with and repudiate.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Hi there, do you know the official Catholic position regarding sactification of unbelieving husband or wife? Thanks for your help.

“Tthe unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband” 1 Cor 7:14

Note he’s instructing the believing spouse not to put out the unbelieving spouse. He’s not telling an unbeliever that this is a solution, like other posters have said.

The believer should have nothing to fear by having an unbelieving spouse, and should have all hope for the redemption of the spouse.

It can be tempting for those who believe to want to get away from those who don’t, and I see that as a possible reason this passage needed to be written. Some cite “do not be yoked with unbelievers,” but I see this as relevant only to the decision to be married in the first place, and I’m not sure it’s even relevant then.

I’m not a scholar. I just call 'em the way I see, think, and feel them.

Alan

 

[jcrichton]

Note he’s instructing the believing spouse not to put out the unbelieving spouse. He’s not telling an unbeliever that this is a solution, like other posters have said.

The believer should have nothing to fear by having an unbelieving spouse, and should have all hope for the redemption of the spouse.

It can be tempting for those who believe to want to get away from those who don’t, and I see that as a possible reason this passage needed to be written. Some cite “do not be yoked with unbelievers,” but I see this as relevant only to the decision to be married in the first place, and I’m not sure it’s even relevant then.

I’m not a scholar. I just call 'em the way I see, think, and feel them.

Alan

Hi, Alan!

…the point is that none of us (now and then) have the power to Save anyone–since Salvation is not by proxy the only value of the Believer’s Faith is to Sanctify the marriage/household and thus provide the catalyst for conversion of his/her non-Believer spouse; this is particular to the time of the Teaching since both Jew and Gentiles were converting to Christianity and many would have been married but the spouse/children may not have desired to convert…

…the cautionary “uneven yokes” is mostly directed at Christian/Converts who were single when they accepted the Faith/Conversion–in such cases it is more prudent for a Christian to seek romantic relations with another Christian since he/she would risk finding him/herself in a problem marriage (in the least) or even rejecting the Faith (at worst)–something that is constantly happining in todays mishmash pairings of Christians with non-Christians (and at times even Christians of different confessions).

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Loveolivia]

http://www.castoffdebt.comlol

 

[AlanFromWichita]

and thus provide the catalyst for conversion of his/her non-Believer spouse;

Dear Angel,

I like the way you said that. (I admit I like the word “catalyst.”)

Alan

 

[jcrichton]

Dear Angel,

I like the way you said that. (I admit I like the word “catalyst.”)

Alan

Thank you for the kind words, Alan!

…I know what you mean… there are certain words that just seem to convey a more complete meaning–I love it when they come to me… I just wish I could be better at proof-reading!

Maran atha!

Angel