The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, "'The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament'" (CCC, 400).
Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of the wedding feast of the Lamb. Throughout Scripture, marriage is discussed in terms of its mystery, its institution, the meaning God has given it, its origin, and its ultimate purpose. It explores the various ways marriage has been realized throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties that arise from sin, and its renewal in Christ through the New Covenant with the Church.