De facto unions, factors of fragility and sacramental grace

(38) The presence of the Church and of Christian marriage over the ages has made civil society capable of recognizing marriage in its original condition to which Christ alludes in his response. [86][86] The original condition of marriage and the difficulty of recognizing it and living it as an intimate truth in the depths of one’s being, “propter duritiam cordis”, always seems to be a current question. Marriage is a natural institution whose essential characteristics can be recognized by intelligence, over and above cultures.[87][87]  This recognition of the truth about marriage is also of a moral nature.[88][88]  However, the fact cannot be ignored that human nature, wounded by sin and redeemed by Christ, does not always succeed in recognizing clearly the truths written by God in the human heart.  Hence Christian witness in the world, the Church and its Magisterium have to be a living teaching and a testimony in the world.[89][89]  In this context it is also important to stress in this context the real and proper need for grace so that married life can reach its true fullness.[90][90]  Therefore, when making a pastoral discernment of the problem of de facto unions, it is important to consider human fragility and the importance of a truly ecclesial experience and catechesis which will guide toward a life of grace, prayer, the sacraments and in particular Reconciliation.