1) First Address: Marriage in the Teaching of Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:1-9)

Summary: Marriage is an institution with a Mission. The “be fruitful and multiply” of the Old Covenant is extended and modified as the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. Fruitfulness in marriage is the essential part to the definition of marriage as God’s institution to propagate the human race both in the order of nature and in the order of grace.

2) Second Address: The Family as the Incarnation of the Church (relying largely on the Pauline teaching)

Summary: The Christian family forms the core and foundation of society and the Church by modeling in concrete terms the Trinitarian Relations of God. The love of each member of the Godhead for the others is reflected in the love of man and wife that overflows in and to children. Children are the supreme gift of marital love and the welfare of future generations must be the highest priority of the Church and a stable society.

3) Third Address: The Mission of Marriage and the Single Life (Matthew 19:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 7)

Summary: Permanent Vows provide stability for families and therefore for society. Both Marriage and the Single Life share a common goal of spreading the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They differ in their modes of pursuing that goal. Marriage models the intensive nature of God’s love while the Single Life models the extensive nature of God’s love.