Purpose of Marriage

The first purpose of Holy Matrimony is what the Prayer Book calls “the procreation of children”, (6) that is, the husband and wife cooperate with God in the loving creation of children – new human beings.  The union of husband and wife is also compared with the union of Christ and his Holy Church:

“Marriage is a gift of God in creation
through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. 
It is given
that as man and woman grow together in love and trust,
they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind,
as Christ is united with his bride, the Church”. (7)