Marriage is a Charism.  St Paul says “Each has their – gift one for marriage, one for virginity.” Marriage is a gift of the Spirit.

Someone might be married but are they living marriage in a charismatic way?  St Paul describes charisms as “manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  By definition, marriage is oriented towards helping your spouse and children become holy, know Jesus and get to Heaven.

Jesus wants to pour His Holy Spirit on the man and woman.  Their humanity, their maleness and femaleness, is the matter of the sacrament, just as much as bread and wine are the matter for the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

In the marriage rite, the Bishop, Priest or Deacon in the Nuptial Blessing calls down the Holy Spirit on the couple by saying “Look now with favor on these your servants, joined together in Marriage, who ask to be strengthened by your blessing.  Send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in their Marriage Covenant.”

This is asking the Father through Jesus to pour the Holy Spirit on the man and woman to make them the body and blood of Christ for each other. He asks that their marriage covenant may better symbolize Christ love for His Church.

Because marriage is a gift (charism) of the Holy Spirit, marriage is meant to be lived in the Holy Spirit, even in a charismatic way. Then, with the power of the Holy Spirit given to the couple, they have the power to radically love, forgive, and heal each other. Jesus wants all couples to tap into the power and super abundance of new wine given in the Sacrament of Marriage.