8.  Married love particularly reveals its true nature and nobility when we realize that it takes its origin from God, who “is love,” (cf. 1 John 4:8) the Father “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” (Eph 3:15)

Marriage, then, is far from being the effect of chance or the result of the blind evolution of natural forces. It is in reality the wise and provident institution of God the Creator, whose purpose was to effect in man His loving design. As a consequence, husband and wife, through that mutual gift of themselves, which is specific and exclusive to them alone, develop that union of two persons in which they perfect one another, cooperating with God in the generation and rearing of new lives.

The marriage of those who have been baptized is, in addition, invested with the dignity of a sacramental sign of grace, for it represents the union of Christ and His Church.

In order to correctly understand conjugal love, we need to first understand marriage itself.   Marriage is not a product of chance but a part of God’s plan for humanity.  In the sacrament of marriage, man and woman become an image of God and His love of the Church to the world.  In married love, we see God because He is its origin.  And so much like the Trinity is a “communion of love”, marriage when it is exclusive, permanent, and open to life is a “union of two persons in which they perfect one another”.  The communion of love in the Trinity is the communion of love meant to be expressed in the indissoluble marriage.

(Posted with permission from Fr. Lee Acervo at http://fatheracervo.wordpress.com)