Annotation CCCVII
”This is a great sacrament.” — Ephesians 5:32
On the sacrament of matrimony.
Thomas Cajetan, expounding these [words] in the commentaries, Ambrose of Compsa, [in] the fourth book of the Annotations, reprehends with these words: “CAJETAN here notes that matrimony is not held by Paul to be a sacrament. For Paul does not say, ‘This sacrament is great,’ as the interpreter [Cajetan] expounded, but, ‘This mystery is great.’ Who would not marvel [at this]? Could Paul, writing in Greek, have said sacramentum, which is a Latin word — whereas, saying in Greek mystery, he certainly said in Greek that which in Latin signifies sacrament? For Cyril, and Chrysostom, and Basil, and Dionysius before these, also—
“—they also call the Eucharist a ‘mystery,’ and so [name] the other [things] which we call sacraments. But if Paul had said ‘sacrament,’ there would still be a question, whether he took it thus, as that word is restricted by the theologians. But if we agree as to the thing — namely, that matrimony is a sacrament, as that word is taken strictly — and Paul, speaking in Greek, calls it a ‘mystery,’ which is that which in Latin is ‘sacrament’: why, then, did not Paul understand such a sacrament, and express [it] by that word, as we also confess it to be? But attend to this also, I pray, good reader: [namely] what Cajetan subjoined for the declaring of this mystery. For thus he says: ‘This mystery is great; and truly [it is] a mystery of these words: For this cause shall he leave, etc. For they contain the indivisibility of wedlock, as the Lord explained in Matthew; [the words] contain also the right of nature abhorring [forbidding] marriage with father and mother; they contain also the debt owed by the husband more to the wife than to father and mother; and this, which Paul has just declared, [namely] that the wife is the flesh of the husband. Thus he’” — and [it is one of] the great mysteries. “Paul says, ‘This’ — that is, matrimony itself — ‘is a great mystery.’ And the Cardinal [Cajetan] expounds [it]: ‘the mystery of these words, For this cause shall he leave, etc., is great.’ Paul declares in what way this mystery is great — that is, in Christ and the Church: but the Cardinal, [says it is great] because those words contain the right of abhorring marriage with father and mother — which is also false, as we shall say in its place. Which, however, if it were [so], how great and admirable a mystery would it be, which no nation, however fierce and savage, ever was ignorant of! The indivisibility, too, of wedlock, and the most close bond of the married, is not worthy to be called a ‘mystery,’ since it is persuaded even by natural reason. That, therefore, is truly the great mystery which is signified in matrimony — namely, Christ and the Church, the bridegroom and the bride: for so the Apostle declares himself. Why, therefore, do we still seek an alien interpretation?”