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Brak: otajstvo vjerne ljubavi
"Readers will come to understand the nature of marriage and its superiority to "living together" and other temporary unions.
They will learn to distinguish love from lust, infatuation, and other common counterfeits; and they'll discover the healing role it can play in the best, and bleakest, of marriages.
Readers will come to see how the sacramental marriage of Christians is the fulfillment and perfection of marriage, giving husband and wife what every spouse secretly longs for."
(Intended for: Married Christians seeking to improve their relationships; single, engaged, priests and religious seeking to understand the married state and all relationships.)
88 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1929
18 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
About the author
Dietrich von Hildebrand
76 books209 followersDietrich von Hildebrand was a German Catholic philosopher and theologian who was called (informally) by Pope Pius XII "the 20th Century Doctor of the Church."
Pope John Paul II greatly admired the work of von Hildebrand, remarking once to von Hildebrand's widow, Alice von Hildebrand, "Your husband is one of the great ethicists of the twentieth century." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has a particular admiration and regard for Dietrich von Hildebrand, whom he already knew as a young priest in Munich. In fact, as young Fr. Ratzinger, he even served as an assistant pastor in the church of St. Georg in Munich, which von Hildebrand frequented in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also in St. Georg that Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand were married.
The degree of Pope Benedict's esteem is expressed in one of his statements about von Hildebrand, "When the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time." Von Hildebrand was a vocal critic of the changes in the church brought by the Second Vatican Council. He especially resented the new liturgy. Of it he said "Truly, if one of the devils in C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters had been entrusted with the ruin of the liturgy, he could not have done it better."
Von Hildebrand died in New Rochelle, New York, in 1977.
Pope John Paul II greatly admired the work of von Hildebrand, remarking once to von Hildebrand's widow, Alice von Hildebrand, "Your husband is one of the great ethicists of the twentieth century." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has a particular admiration and regard for Dietrich von Hildebrand, whom he already knew as a young priest in Munich. In fact, as young Fr. Ratzinger, he even served as an assistant pastor in the church of St. Georg in Munich, which von Hildebrand frequented in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also in St. Georg that Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand were married.
The degree of Pope Benedict's esteem is expressed in one of his statements about von Hildebrand, "When the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time." Von Hildebrand was a vocal critic of the changes in the church brought by the Second Vatican Council. He especially resented the new liturgy. Of it he said "Truly, if one of the devils in C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters had been entrusted with the ruin of the liturgy, he could not have done it better."
Von Hildebrand died in New Rochelle, New York, in 1977.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 5, 2022
Simple and very short*, but profound. Von Hildebrand is right as usual. A similar sort of philosophy to JP2’s Love and Responsibility — would not be surprised if that pope had read this. It is quite pragmatic for a philosophical work.
One particularly interesting section acknowledged the fact that not all marriages are an experience of perfect conjugal & self giving love, and spoke about how those unions can be nonetheless noble.
*I found it on the bookshelf in our back room, sat down on the couch, and read it in one sitting, then got up.
One particularly interesting section acknowledged the fact that not all marriages are an experience of perfect conjugal & self giving love, and spoke about how those unions can be nonetheless noble.
*I found it on the bookshelf in our back room, sat down on the couch, and read it in one sitting, then got up.
August 3, 2025
Wow Hildebrand! A beautiful reflection on the sacramentality and nature of marriage. I can see how JPII was inspired by this work to compose his Theology of the Body sermons. A must-read for anyone interested in the theology of marriage or involved in Catholic marriage prep.
March 25, 2022
Wow, this book is unbelievably beautiful. I hope every married couple and those discerning marriage read it. 🥲
March 19, 2018
This is one of those books that was a quick read, that I now have to go back and read section by section and really process it. Highly recommend.
August 24, 2024
This is a brief book, and not a deep one. It is more like an introduction to the topic of Christian marriage than a guide. It touches on a number of areas, from the parallel between the love of one's neighbour and the love of one's spouse, to the relationship between conjugal and sensual love, through to a comparison between the institution of marriage and the institutions of Holy Orders.
The perspective is avowedly Roman Catholic (which is not surprising), but it also presents a challenge to any readers who are not Roman Catholic. There are large parts of this text which are fundamentally incompatible with many traditions of mainstream Protestantism. The concept of marriage as a kind of Holy Order, and the connected veneration of virginity (even holding it above consummated marriage) doesn't make a great deal of sense in a priesthood of all believers. But I suppose it really does just highlight the gulf between Protestantism and Catholicism even in the 21st century.
The perspective is avowedly Roman Catholic (which is not surprising), but it also presents a challenge to any readers who are not Roman Catholic. There are large parts of this text which are fundamentally incompatible with many traditions of mainstream Protestantism. The concept of marriage as a kind of Holy Order, and the connected veneration of virginity (even holding it above consummated marriage) doesn't make a great deal of sense in a priesthood of all believers. But I suppose it really does just highlight the gulf between Protestantism and Catholicism even in the 21st century.
March 12, 2021
Beautiful and deep. I haven't read a book like this - philosophy, but not dry - in some time. It's a pleasure to return.
Von Hildebrand's discussion of both natural marriage and sacramental marriage is fascinating, and I feel like I've scratched the surface of many thoughts here. There are aspects to his arguments that appear inconsistent or maybe incomplete; and I look forward to reading this again more of his works to get a fuller sense of what he means.
Von Hildebrand's discussion of both natural marriage and sacramental marriage is fascinating, and I feel like I've scratched the surface of many thoughts here. There are aspects to his arguments that appear inconsistent or maybe incomplete; and I look forward to reading this again more of his works to get a fuller sense of what he means.
February 27, 2015
My husband's parents gifted us this volume shortly before our wedding, and while I'm not Catholic, I found it a wonderful book to read through together as we started our marriage.
It is a short book, but definitely not a quick read! We found that a page or two sparked an hour of discussion and re-reading the text to better digest Hildebrand's ideas.
Unlike most books on marriage, this isn't a "how to" manual with practical tips and suggestions for a God-centered marriage. This is a densely written theology treatise! That being said, it's still accessible to the patient layman. We have found it a great blessing and a source of Biblical principles to build a foundation of marriage upon.
It is a short book, but definitely not a quick read! We found that a page or two sparked an hour of discussion and re-reading the text to better digest Hildebrand's ideas.
Unlike most books on marriage, this isn't a "how to" manual with practical tips and suggestions for a God-centered marriage. This is a densely written theology treatise! That being said, it's still accessible to the patient layman. We have found it a great blessing and a source of Biblical principles to build a foundation of marriage upon.
September 22, 2016
Great philosophical--phenomenological--treatise on marriage.
January 18, 2020
A succinct treatise on the sacramental reality of marriage. von Hildebrand's treatment of conjugal love and its relationship with God's divine love stands as a powerful countercultural approach to modernity's increasingly hostile sentiments against marriage.
March 4, 2024
I’m sure I agree with everything von Hildebrand said, but this felt repetitive and too philosophical for my normal person brain.
Read
March 23, 2024There are some points that I disagree with in this book (likely because I am not a Catholic) however, I am encouraged to love my husband more, which would make any book worthwhile.
January 27, 2025
“It lies in the nature of conjugal love to be bold, heroic, not to shrink back from taking a risk.”
First D. von Hildebrand in its entirety—wow.
First D. von Hildebrand in its entirety—wow.
March 23, 2024
Beautiful book! At times over my head but overall insightful look at marriage
March 2, 2017
A gem of a book. Dietrich delves into the beauty and dignity of married love.
Very highly recommended.
Very highly recommended.
August 7, 2018
The sanctity and sacredness of marriage is so profound! Love is the meaning of marriage, procreation is the purpose (there’s a difference). The indissolubility of marriage means taking a huge risk, but without such risks we cannot attain the grandeur and heroism that we are called to!
“In natural conjugal love the real individuality of the partner is mysteriously revealed.”
“Being in love constitutes the only truly awakened state.”
And Luke 9:62 ‘Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”’
Go all in!
“In natural conjugal love the real individuality of the partner is mysteriously revealed.”
“Being in love constitutes the only truly awakened state.”
And Luke 9:62 ‘Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”’
Go all in!
June 6, 2024
In an age where marriage is seen as an inconvenience, or waste of time; when the phrase, 'We love each other, why do we need a piece of paper (marriage cert.) to prove that?', is uttered so often, Von Hildebrand presents a short, but compelling defense of marriage, its meaning and end goal, and what the sacrament of Christian marriage means for the most loving of communities.
Admittedly, the book is *very* Christian, and then some: Catholic. While Von Hildebrand does defend marriage more generally, his ideal is most clearly a Roman Catholic marriage, founded on love, with the end purposes of procreation and veneration of God.
If you're strong atheist, you'll find little here of value - if, however, you're not religious, but of a more 'secular nature', you may swap references to God, with something like 'Transcendental Idealism', and you may garner some insight into the necessity of the conjugal union.
Admittedly, the book is *very* Christian, and then some: Catholic. While Von Hildebrand does defend marriage more generally, his ideal is most clearly a Roman Catholic marriage, founded on love, with the end purposes of procreation and veneration of God.
If you're strong atheist, you'll find little here of value - if, however, you're not religious, but of a more 'secular nature', you may swap references to God, with something like 'Transcendental Idealism', and you may garner some insight into the necessity of the conjugal union.
January 17, 2025
Excellent, short book that started as a 1920s lecture, this is more a series of interconnected spiritual reflections than a structured theological argument. Part 1 discusses the nature of love and natural marriage; Part 2 explores how the Christian Sacrament of Marriage elevates and perfects this natural institution. For anyone interested in theology of the body, this is an must read. I need to find out exactly how influential it was on John Paul's "Man and Woman He Created Them," but there are a lot of parallels between the two texts, and I can only assume this is something of an Urtext when it comes to the development of TOB in the 20th c.
January 3, 2025
Одна з кращих книга про шлюб і сімʼю з католицької перспективи, яку читав. Дуже коротко (41 с), доступно, глибоко.
Цікаво описано розділення цілі і смислу шлюбу. Якщо читати це в історичному контексті, то це було дуже провокуючим стверджувати що смисл шлюбу не лише в дітородженні, а і у відносинах подружжя.
Книга загалом зберігає свою актуальність і буде корисна не лише католикам, нмсд, оскільки зачіпає всі три важливі компоненти: ортодоксія (ідеї) - що таке сімʼя, ортопраксис (поведінка) - як потрібно поводитись та ортопафос (емоції).
Цікаво описано розділення цілі і смислу шлюбу. Якщо читати це в історичному контексті, то це було дуже провокуючим стверджувати що смисл шлюбу не лише в дітородженні, а і у відносинах подружжя.
Книга загалом зберігає свою актуальність і буде корисна не лише католикам, нмсд, оскільки зачіпає всі три важливі компоненти: ортодоксія (ідеї) - що таке сімʼя, ортопраксис (поведінка) - як потрібно поводитись та ортопафос (емоції).
May 14, 2020
A concise work that links the natural with the Sacramental and explains how a marriage that pursues Heaven is worthy of striving for. Wise to define the purpose and ends of natural marriage before discussing Catholic marriage--the fulfillment of natural marriage--von Hildebrand writes and invaluable work for the engaged, married, and vocationally-discerning alike. It is a great injustice to the Sacrament that this book isn't used in marriage preparation across modern dioceses.
August 8, 2023
“As a Sacrament, marriage gives people the super natural strength necessary to ‘fight the good fight.’”
I really loved the first half of the book, but felt like I got lost a little as it went on. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to reading books with more philosophical language so I had to stop to think more or go back over certain sections. Still, there was some good stuff to take out of this quick and easy read!
I really loved the first half of the book, but felt like I got lost a little as it went on. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to reading books with more philosophical language so I had to stop to think more or go back over certain sections. Still, there was some good stuff to take out of this quick and easy read!
June 26, 2022
Read this book with my wife, and it was great to discuss the topics and compare notes. Von Hildebrand does an excellent job of articulating what so many people need to hear, and he doesn’t beat around the bush. Would highly recommend to other couples looking to increase communication and discussion to give this book a read!
April 19, 2024
Despite what the back of this book says, this is not a manual on how to make your marriage better. Von Hildebrand offers no advice, but instead gives an in-depth treatise on the beauty and mystery of married love.
February 20, 2025
Quick 80 page read that sums up important aspects of what marriage really is from a biblical standpoint! It’s a really really old book so language is a bit hard and it’s from Catholic pov but was still enlightening and applicable
August 20, 2025
Libro breve con profundas reflexiones: amor conyugal, matrimonio y sacramento. Diferencia significado y finalidad. Mucho ha pasado y se ha escrito desde 1929 pero las ideas del autor siguen luciendo valiosas.
August 26, 2017
An incredible book about marriage. This should be required ready for all couples, especially those preparing for marriage. Highly recommended.
November 26, 2018
Great short treatise on marriage.
March 18, 2022
Phenomenal.
‘Let us never forget the only decisive question
which is always in all things: "What is for the greater
glory of God?"’
‘Let us never forget the only decisive question
which is always in all things: "What is for the greater
glory of God?"’
June 16, 2023
I’m really glad I read this book in conjunction with “In Defense of Purity”. It’s a small book but packed full of beautiful truths. This should be required reading for marriage prep!
March 3, 2024
read for couples Bible study! Very dense but very good. He was unapologetic in a good way. Gave me a much better understanding of the sanctity of marriage.
February 26, 2025
So profound and beautiful! Highly recommend to anyone engaged, married, or discerning marriage.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews