Section 4 | Rule 1: The Custos’ Marriage is Analogous to Christ’s Relationship with His Church

As Christ is Bridegroom to His Church,

As Christ is Bridegroom to His Church, so also the Custos is husband to his wife. As Christ is lover to the Church, His beloved, so also the Custos intentionally initiates acts of love toward his wife. The Custos’ marriage, by extension of the analogy, is to become a living sacrament and an efficacious sign of Christ’s fidelity to and charity for His Church. For the holy apostle, speaking of the marriage bond, says, “This is a great sacrament; but I speak of Christ and of the Church” (). Let the Custos understand that a great portion of his mission is to transmit God’s love and fidelity by means of his marriage. His marriage has the purpose of reflecting “the light to the nations” (see Lk 2:32), while also reflecting His fidelity: “For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God of Israel” (Mal. 2:16). If his actions toward his wife are marked by fidelity and charity, he is becoming a sacrament of Christ; if his disposition toward his wife is one of contempt, resent, utility, neglect, or indifference, he is becoming an anti-sacrament of Christ and is allowing himself to be used as a tool of the devil. Therefore, let the Custos look to the life of Christ and study how He related to sinners, and then commit themselves to reflecting His love, fidelity, and forgiveness—particularly to his wife.

Devin Schadt | Executive Director of the Fathers of St. Joseph

Ite ad Joseph