Michael G. Lawler, PhD, Amelia and Emil Graff Professor Emeritus of Catholic Theology at Creighton University, received his training in theology at Dublin, Oxford, Rome, and St. Louis. He was a member of the Theology Department at Creighton for thirty-five years and is a prolific lecturer and writer. He has published twenty-two books and some 150 scholarly essays on topics related to sacraments, marriage, and sexuality. His most recent books are co-authored with Todd Salzman: the award winning and best-selling The Sexual Person: Towards a Renewed Catholic Anthropology (Georgetown University Press, 2008); Sexual Ethics: A Theological Introduction (Georgetown University Press, 2012). Dr. Lawler and his wife Susan have three adult children and four grandchildren.

• ContentsAbbreviations viiIntroduction ix1.  Marriage and the Sacrament of Marriage   1Friendship   1Love   4Marriage   7The Sacrament of Marriage   12Summary   15Questions for Reflection 162.  The Sacrament of Marriage: Meanings   18The Matrix of the Sacrament of Marriage   18The Covenant of Marriage   20Personal Faith and the Sacrament of Marriage   25Summary 32Questions for Reflection 333.  The Sacrament of Marriage: Biblical Basis   36Marriage in the Old Testament   36Marriage in the New Testament   41Qualities of Christian Marriage 47Summary 49Questions for Reflection 504.  The Sacrament of Marriage: History 52The Teaching of the Greek Fathers   52The Teaching of the Latin Fathers   56 The Scholastic Doctrine   60The Teaching of the Church   62The Modern Period   65Summary   71Questions for Reflection   725.  The Sacrament of Marriage: Dissolution   75Divorce and Remarriage in the New Testament   76Development of the New Testament Teaching in the Church   84Divorce and Remarriage in the Catholic Church: Present Practice   93Summary   95Questions for Reflection   966.  The Sacrament of Marriage: Disputed Questions   98Embodied Love   98Fruitfulness in Marriage   102Indissoluble Marital Love and Indissoluble Marriage   104Divorce and Remarriage   106Internal Forum   109Ecumenical Marriage   111The Minister of the Sacrament of Marriage   115Summary   117Questions for Reflection   117Bibliography   119General Index   121

This is a very fine, readable resource.Liturgical Ministry