Marriage is an institution which has evolved in Catholic encyclicals from “contract,” to “covenant” to an “interpersonal union.” This last one is a bit of a “new agey” way to say “soul mate.” Sorry, but even the Vatican has taken on the Hollywood mood. Something nearer to the Vedic model of marriage would be a word like “companionship,” which comes from the Latin roots comor “with” and panis meaning “bread.” A companion is one with whom with one shares bread in both the material and symbolic sense. Carrying these metaphors further, children of a successful marriage may be considered as the “bread” or “fruit” (outcome). Procreation, the bringing forth of Godly offspring who work to improve the quality of life on earth, is a sacred duty not just the result of a compulsive urge.