"Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church"

Pope John Paul II describes marriage as a conscious and deliberate choice, an act of will that goes beyond mere emotion or circumstance. He emphasizes the idea that marriage is not accidental or automatic, but rather a profound commitment that both people actively choose. By referring to marriage as a “mutual gift,” he draws attention to the self-giving nature inherent in the marital bond. Each spouse offers themselves entirely to the other, holding nothing back. This exchange forms the foundation of true unity, where two distinct persons come together, not losing their individuality but choosing to be united through love, respect, and self-donation.

The unity that comes from this mutual gift is more than physical or emotional; it binds the spouses together in spirit, engaging their souls on a journey toward growth and fulfillment. By stating that the spouses are “bound to their eventual souls", the Pope points toward the spiritual dimensions of marriage. Married life becomes a path not only to personal happiness but also to spiritual maturity, helping each partner to realize the fullness of their own humanity and assisting one another in achieving holiness.

When he speaks of marriage culminating in the formation of a “sole family,” John Paul II highlights the family’s unique and irreplaceable role in society and the Church. By invoking the phrase “domestic church,” he draws a parallel between the family unit and the larger spiritual community of the Church. Just as the Church is a place of unity, love, service, and faith, so too is the family called to be a miniature church, where faith is lived out daily, values are cultivated, and love is given and received without reserve. Marriage, therefore, is elevated; through freely given self-offering, it becomes a sacred space where divine love is mirrored and made manifest in everyday life.