Gregorio RODRÍGUEZ MEJÍA ^*

Given the importance of ma-rriage to all normal men, it should be studied as an institution or the legal act which creates it. Whether as an institution or as a legal act, marriage should be ana-lyzed in the light of not only Civil Law, but also Canonical Law, since in our social en-vironment, a high percentage of the popu-lation professes the Catholic faith. Thus, marriage should be seen as a legal act regu-lated by Civil Law or as a sacrament re-gulated by Canonical Law. In studying marriage, it is important to determine the role of the judge or civil registry official and the cleric in contracting marriage. Given the frequency of concubinage, it should be studied as a complementary re-lationship to marriage in social life.