The first anthology ever published for use in the theology of marriage course taught at virtually every Roman Catholic college and university, this comprehensive, classroom-tested text is flexibly designed to accommodate a variety of approaches to teaching about marriage and the marital relationship, from the strictly historical and canonical, to sociogical, psychological, and even ministerial perspectives. Striking a balance between solid theological material and stimulating readings on issues of intense current interest, the essays explore historic views of marriage in the Jewish and Christian traditions, contemporary theological views of marriage as a sacrament, marriage within the context of family life and the church, modern attitudes toward commitment, fidelity, sexuality, and romantic love, the role and value of communication and conflict in marriage, transcending stereotypes, divorce and annulment, and inter-religious perspectives on marriage. The editors' introductions and questions for discussion accompanying each chapter and individual reading enhance the accessibility of the text, and an appendix reprints ecclesiastical documents on marriage commonly used in Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States to guide couples preparing for marriage or filing for an annulment.