4.6. Romantic Feeling v.s. Marriage

The desire to own another person, even when aligned with natural design, cannot substitute the perfection of one's soul, as the soul's fulfillment depends solely on God. However, marriage can be approached as a path to perfection by first striving for the perfection of one's soul and then, through mutual consent, entering into marriage for the purpose of raising children. This perspective aligns with certain Eastern Church practices that emphasize chastity within marriage. When individuals are free, joyful, and unburdened by anxiety, they may find no compulsion to express love through sexual pleasure within marriage. Such an approach contrasts with the portrayal of love driven by pleasure, as popularized by romantic fiction and Hollywood, which often prioritizes personal gratification over the deeper charity and spiritual unity central to marital love. Where we put our security in our spouse, there, relies an underlying escapism that may be considered good but can't be called perfect.