The essential properties of marriage - unity and indissolubility

Sa？etak This article deals with the issues related to the essential properties of marriage, unity and indissolubility. Church has always seen marriage as a natural covenantal partnership between the baptized, and as a sacrament, which means that the natural reality of matrimonial covenant has been elevated to the supernatural order as an effective sign of grace. The essential properties, the unity and the indissolubility which are proper to natural marriage obtain a special firmnessin Christian marriage. These properties are also important for Christian and non-Christian marriages because they arise from the very nature and essential purpose of marriage. The Christian tradition and the doctrine of St. Paul teach that these two properties reflect the unique and indissoluble bond of Christ and the Church. The article deals with the exclusion of essential properties from the marriage consent or proof of nullity of marriage because of the exclusion of unity and indissolubility by a positive act of will