And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. The union of a man and a woman is natural. The natural language of the human body is such that the man gives to the woman and the woman receives the man. The love and friendship between a man and a woman grow into a desire for marriage. The sacrament of marriage gives the couple the grace to grow into a union of heart and soul, to provide stability for themselves and their children.
Children are the fruit and bond of a marriage.
The bond of marriage between a man and a woman lasts all the days of their lives, and the form of the rite consists of the mutual exchange of vows by a couple, both of whom have been baptized. The minister serves as a witness to the couple in the West, but serves as the actual minister of the rite in the East. The matter follows later through consummation of the marriage act. The bond of marriage is compared to God's undying love for Israel in the Old Testament, and Christ's love for his Church in the New Testament. The importance of marriage is substantiated by the presence of Christ at the wedding feast of Cana, where he began his public ministry, performing his first miracle.