Without mention of the soul, the Merriam-Webster dictionary describes a “soul mate” as “a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament; a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs.”
Monsignor Jeremiah F. Kenney, judicial vicar, agrees that the soul is not involved. “The Church has no position on the term if it is used in this way. It does not mean people are ‘connected’ by their immortal souls.”
Rather, he said, the term is more of a local concept for the closest of friends who share the same likes and dislikes. “It does mean that two people are so close as to share the same views on almost everything life sends their way.”
“Do you believe in soul mates? If so, what is your description of a soul mate and do you believe you are married to your soul mate?” The Catholic Review posed these questions to several parishioners:
“No. I believe we can love many people, and the choices we’ve made or the choices that were made for us put us in the path of someone with whom we are compatible and can make the most out of our experiences in life. I’m happily married to someone I’m delighted to be married to. But he and I also have talked about the fact that if ‘this or that’ set of circumstances hadn’t happened, we would most likely be happily married to someone else. There are many paths to follow that can bring great joy in life.”