Meaning of Marriage

The meaning of marriage or what defines marriage has expanded over the centuries.  There was quite a long time when marriage was arranged by families, kings and princes, fathers.  Consent of the couple was not even in the picture.  Then along came a fellow named Gratian who tried to organize all the canon laws of the church to get some clarity.  He added that "consent" is what makes a marriage.  You could arrange whatever you want but if the couple do not give their sincere consent, then you don't have a marriage.  I don't think he was very popular with kings or any other patriarchal personage.  However, consent eventually became part of what the church teaches as making a marriage.  Change happens.  Those who say, "Marriage has always been about,"  ought to read a bit of history.  Or read a bit more.