Małżeństwo w dokumentach Soboru Trydenckiego

Abstract

An invaluable source to learn the teaching of the Church is found in the statements of universal synods. One of the most important ones was the Tridentine Council (1545-1563), which defined the essential dogmatic truths, including those on marriage. By this kind of teaching the Church responded to the theses proclaimed by some Renaissance humanists, and by the representatives of the Reformation. Some advocates of anti-religious humanism proclaimed moral liberalism, sexual promiscuity, and wanted to secularise Christian marriage. Now Martin Luther, the main representative of the Reformation, rejected the essential points of the traditional vision of marriage. From 1520 onwards, he rejected the sacramental character of marriage, attributed it with a secular character, and was critical of celibacy. The problem of marriage appeared as early as the first period of the Tridentine Council (1545-1548). The first dogmatic definition on that was formulated at the seventh session on 3rd March 1547 in the decree on the sacraments (Decretum Primum: [De sacramentis]), within the canons on the sacraments in general (Canones de sacramentis in genere). A general approach to the question of Christian marriage in discusses in 1563. Eventually, on 11th November 1563 a definitive document entitled Doctrina de sacramento matrimonio accepted. It explained the Council’s teaching on marriage. The document consists of an introductory text (Matrimonii perpetuimi indissolubilemque; DS 1979-1800), twelve cannons on the sacrament of marriage (Canones de sacramento matrimonii; DS 1801-1812), and ten chapters of the decree Tametsi about the canon form of marriage Canones super reformatione circa matrimonium.