2.) How did the clerical “model” of marriage differ from the lay model?
The clerical model of marriage had different features than that of the lay model of marriage during the 11h and 12th centuries. In the clerical model, which was rooted from Roman Law, the power of heads of families was limited and the emphasis on the consent of both the male and the female, and although requested, parental consent was not required. In contrast, the lay model, especially in noble families, marriages were seen as agreements and pacts among families for political gain, security, money, power, and prestige. Families would betroth their daughters and without their daughters consent, would marry them to a man of their choosing. Another factor that clerical marriage did not emphasize in their model of marriage that lay marriage did was the consummation of the marriage with sexual intercourse. For lay marriage, the union between husband and wife was often not seen valid or legal until the couple consummates the marriage. Clerical marriages attempted to sway from this thought to preserve the Gregorian reform that required all members of the clergy to remain and be celibate.
4.) What problem did the marriage of Mary and Joseph pose for medieval theorists?
The problem that medieval theorists had with the marriage of Mary and Joseph is that the image of Mary as being the celestial virgin who gave birth to the son of God and having sons after the birth of Jesus with Joseph. The church preserved the image of Jesus and his chastity as the relationship between Jesus and His church a religious and spiritual marriage rather than a carnal marriage that is suggested Mary and Joseph had after the birth of Jesus. The church believed that the only marriage a member of the clergy needed was the marriage that was between you and God, the same Jesus had. This marriage was believed to be one that even lasted past death, that after taking this vow and joining this union, nothing can break it. For lay marriages, this posed problems when the concept of sexual intercourse as a seal of an official marriage was seen as sinful to the church.
2.) How did the clerical “model” of marriage differ from the lay model?
The clerical model of marriage had different features than that of the lay model of marriage during the 11h and 12th centuries. In the clerical model, which was rooted from Roman Law, the power of heads of families was limited and the emphasis on the consent of both the male and the female, and although requested, parental consent was not required. In contrast, the lay model, especially in noble families, marriages were seen as agreements and pacts among families for political gain, security, money, power, and prestige. Families would betroth their daughters and without their daughters consent, would marry them to a man of their choosing. Another factor that clerical marriage did not emphasize in their model of marriage that lay marriage did was the consummation of the marriage with sexual intercourse. For lay marriage, the union between husband and wife was often not seen valid or legal until the couple consummates the marriage. Clerical marriages attempted to sway from this thought to preserve the Gregorian reform that required all members of the clergy to remain and be celibate.
4.) What problem did the marriage of Mary and Joseph pose for medieval theorists?
The problem that medieval theorists had with the marriage of Mary and Joseph is that the image of Mary as being the celestial virgin who gave birth to the son of God and having sons after the birth of Jesus with Joseph. The church preserved the image of Jesus and his chastity as the relationship between Jesus and His church a religious and spiritual marriage rather than a carnal marriage that is suggested Mary and Joseph had after the birth of Jesus. The church believed that the only marriage a member of the clergy needed was the marriage that was between you and God, the same Jesus had. This marriage was believed to be one that even lasted past death, that after taking this vow and joining this union, nothing can break it. For lay marriages, this posed problems when the concept of sexual intercourse as a seal of an official marriage was seen as sinful to the church.