Why is Marriage not considered to be eternal?

[RoryMcKenzie56]

It seems difficult to reconcile the concept of eternal marriage in heaven, with the liberty to remarry after the death of a spouse. Would there also be polygamous marriages in heaven?

 

[catharina]

My darling husband died nearly 3 years ago. My only consolation is that I will see him some day in heaven, even though I know it won’t be the same kind of union we had in our earthly journey. Catharina, you may only be stating Catholic teaching, but you have a remarkably harsh way of putting it.

I’m sorry of you found my words to be harsh.
I do feel angry when others dispute the words of Christ Himself. Guess it shows.

For anyone to imagine that they have a better plan for heaven than GOD’s plan is goofy.
Isn’t it more likely that God’s plan will surpass man’s puny imaginings about eternity?
I’d rather trust God to plan eternal happiness for us that trust any individual to do so.

Don’t imagine that I haven’t lost an abundance of people to death in my own life.
Does God need my advice to plan any and all reunions if I’m blessed to enter heaven?

Ahhhhh - NO.

 

[catharina]

I think the marriage to Christ is refering to our total reunion with him and oneness in heaven, I don’t belive marriage in this life is *just *a preview of our union with christ, married couples, I think will still be together. it’s the church as a whole that is married to christ.

oh and catharina, this has nothing to do with the other sacraments, I hate this idea that just because we choose to reject one teaching, we automatically to reject all others.

Ok. So that’s another thing that bugs you.

 

[bnbkaine]

Marriage between a man and a woman here on Earth is a type of relationship we will have with God in Heaven. The Trinity is the perfect “marriage” and we try to emulate that here with our spouses. When we get to Heaven, we will be in perfect union with God and we will be surrounded by the people that we surround ourselves with here. But our attention will not be focused on our spouse or friends or others, but on God.

That being said, I take comfort in the fact that when I die and get to Heaven and I see my husband there or my kids there or my parents there, we will get to spend the rest of eternity together.

*The ideas expressed here are from personal revelations (not mine) of people whose Catholic opinion I respect. You are not compelled to accept private revelations, but I find comfort in those that have came before me. When something makes sense, then I run with it.

 

[Justin_Mee]

I hate this idea that just because we choose to reject one teaching, we automatically to reject all others.

Blackout, I know you are struggling with this and I know it is only human to compare our life on earth with our life in Heaven. However, just trust God. It will all work out joyously. Also, we are not free to reject ANY of God’s teaching. It’s all or nothing.

 

[bluerose]

To the OP:

Then do you believe widows and widowers should NOT be allowed to remarry?

I’m asking because your views seem to indicate that you believe the marital bond continues after death; therefore, it seems to me, that a person who remarries after the death of a spouse would be guilty of adultery, just as if they had divorced and remarried.

I’m just curious as to how you feel about this, especially for those people widowed at a very young age or after a very brief marriage.

 

[skinny_pumpkin]

I am trying to figure out if it will be my first loving wife (God rest her soul), or my second loving wife. +

I think the overriding idea is that Saints, people in heaven, will have a divine eros/ ascending love or attraction to God as well as an descending love to all. Some ascetics describe this intense “eros” for God as Divine Eros.

Pope Benedict has spoken both of Agape and Eros as beloging together and that they are not necessarily exclusive, as some teach.

So, according to some, once in the presence of the Lord, this divine eros will be a state that is beyond anything we have ever experienced, even love between a husband and wife, or even love for a child. It will not eclipse that love, Just as your present marriage does not eclipse your caring or agape or filio love for friends, strangers, etc. But the true marriage will be with God, you heart will belong to Him. You will give it to Him as you give your heart to your wife now, but even more so.

Pope Benedict acknowledges the role of eros in a spiritual manner in Deus Caritas Est, though not in the context of marriage.

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

What is the point of talking about marriage between a aman and a woman carrying on into the eternal here-after? Not only does this idea ignore the whole question of annulments and divorce when a partner may have left a marriage for good or bad reasons, and not end in Heaven, leaving one partner in Heaven and the other not, but it ignores the marriage of widowed people. Add to that that it’s stated in the bible that the there is no marriage and you’ve got to asjk the questioner what he / she’s rambling about.

God bless,

JimmytwoGuns

Can I just add that someone is posting and using my username (and nickname) Jimmy Two Guns as well, but that it isn’t me and I’m taking nsteps to have this sorted

God bless Pope Benedict !!

The original Jimmytwoguns

 

[Blackout]

actually I seem to recall the Bible saying somewhere (not sure where) that the same rules
apply to widows remarrying as well, but I’m not sure on that one.

 

[Angelic_Rose]

I trust what a priest says though. I do not believe that the spritual bond of marriage will be dissolved in heaven, merely transformed. I cannot imagine the love I have for my wife disappearing nor could I imagine an afterlife in which she isnt with me. God gave her to me, I know he won’t take her away.

I believe this to be true as well— I know my love for my future husband will not diminish when I’m in heaven, but it will be different. Since Jesus said that we’d more like angels in heaven than we are humans on earth (thank God), I would assume that our relationships with the people we know in this life will be important to us, but that we will also love all our Brothers and Sisters in heaven as we worship God together. Since our main focus will be on worshiping God, I don’t see how we could be worried about having a husband or a wife in heaven too. It’s too distracting.

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

Blackout, I’m not sure if you’re agreeing with my view or not…Anyway, Is there marriage in Heaven? The bible says no, but even if someone can pointo to a loophole, who cares???

 

[seagal]

I’m sorry of you found my words to be harsh.
I do feel angry when others dispute the words of Christ Himself. Guess it shows.

For anyone to imagine that they have a better plan for heaven than GOD’s plan is goofy.
Isn’t it more likely that God’s plan will surpass man’s puny imaginings about eternity?
I’d rather trust God to plan eternal happiness for us that trust any individual to do so.

Don’t imagine that I haven’t lost an abundance of people to death in my own life.
Does God need my advice to plan any and all reunions if I’m blessed to enter heaven?

Ahhhhh - NO.

I don’t think anyone is disputing the words of Jesus, just trying to understand them in our limited human way. Jesus didn’t get angry when people misconstrued what he was saying.

I agree with you that God’s plan for us is so much better than anything we could imagine. If we can remember that God only wants good things for us, then whenever we find ourselves thinking “how could God be so cruel” we could answer ourselves: God is not cruel, we are failing to understand.

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

I believe we are bringing Heaven into the realms of thye ridiculously romantic and mundane if we start this sentimental slosh about Hevenh not being Heaven if our wife or husband isn’t with us for eternity.

What about the husband in Hell and the wife in Heaven or vice versa. get a grip and remember we’re not writing valentine cards here. This is heaven we’re talking about, not some sentimental slushy fairy story.

 

[skinny_pumpkin]

I believe we are bringing Heaven into the realms of thye ridiculously romantic and mundane if we start this sentimental slosh about Hevenh not being Heaven if our wife or husband isn’t with us for eternity.

What about the husband in Hell and the wife in Heaven or vice versa. get a grip and remember we’re not writing valentine cards here. This is heaven we’re talking about, not some sentimental slushy fairy story.

I agree also. I think it is easy to fall into this reasoning, myself included. What is difficult is to really begin to grasp what it means to be in the presence of God. To be married to the Lamb. To be one with Christ, the creator of all, the infinite.

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

Skinny Pumpkin, You’re right!

God bless

JimmytwoGuns.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Blackout, what say you to these:

If a man is remarried to another woman when his first wife has died, in heaven who will be his wife?

What happens if one spouse is in heaven and the other in hell?

Why limit it to those who have been married in their earthly life – what if a couple meets in heaven and wants to be married?

Will the couple be allowed to bear children in heaven?

 

[Jimmytwoguns]

To say nothing of the couple who haqve been married and stayed together for the sake of the kids, their faith, the tax breaks, whatever, but hate each other’s guts …

I think we’re all agree by now that the being still married in Heaven is a crazy idea for a zillion reasons and probably why God in His wisdom decided against it.!!!

 

[dandesmommie]

here is a hypothetical case for y’all. Legally and sacramentally married couple. After a few years husband cheats on wife, breaks her heart, “remarries” another (non-sacramental), repents after a few years and goes on living with spouse 2 in fraternal way.
he and spouse 2 have repented, are forgiven, go to heaven. Spouse 1 never remarries, lives rest of life with the hardships of a single parent, no companionship, etc.she dies, goes to heaven. WHY for heaven’s sake would she want to be bound to that man for eternity???
Just my humble opinion

 

[dandesmommie]

Reminds me of the old joke, “may my husband rest in peace, until I get there…”

 

[JBCatholicRN]

To say nothing of the couple who haqve been married and stayed together for the sake of the kids, their faith, the tax breaks, whatever, but hate each other’s guts …

I think we’re all agree by now that the being still married in Heaven is a crazy idea for a zillion reasons and probably why God in His wisdom decided against it.!!!

God didnt decide against it. A couple who hates each other isnt truly married. A married couple who keeps God at the center of their lives doesnt hate each other.