Matrimony Expounded.
Q. WHAT is the seventh Sacrament?
A. Matrimony.
A. Matrimony.
Q. Where was matrimony first ordained?
A. In paradise by Almighty God, when he gave Eve as wife to Adam, who presently said, "Therefore a man shall leaven his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh." Gen. ii. 22, 24.
A. In paradise by Almighty God, when he gave Eve as wife to Adam, who presently said, "Therefore a man shall leaven his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh." Gen. ii. 22, 24.
Q. Where was it made a sacrament of the new law?
A. Where and when Christ instituted this sacrament us uncertain; some think it done, or at least insinuated at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, where Christ was present, and wrought his first miracle, "by turning water into wine." John ii. Others, more probably, say it was done, when Christ declared the indissolubility of marriage, saying, "therefore now they are not two, but one flesh: that therefore which God hath joined together, let no man separate." Matt. xix. 6.
A. Where and when Christ instituted this sacrament us uncertain; some think it done, or at least insinuated at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, where Christ was present, and wrought his first miracle, "by turning water into wine." John ii. Others, more probably, say it was done, when Christ declared the indissolubility of marriage, saying, "therefore now they are not two, but one flesh: that therefore which God hath joined together, let no man separate." Matt. xix. 6.
Q. Why was it requisite that marriage should be made a sacrament?
A. Because it is a contract whereon depends the chief happiness of a married life; as being ordained for the restraint of sinful concupiscence, the good of posterity, the well-ordering our domestic affairs, and the education of our children in the fear and service of God, and therefore ought to be ranked in the highest order of those actions, which Christ hath sanctioned for the use of man.
A. Because it is a contract whereon depends the chief happiness of a married life; as being ordained for the restraint of sinful concupiscence, the good of posterity, the well-ordering our domestic affairs, and the education of our children in the fear and service of God, and therefore ought to be ranked in the highest order of those actions, which Christ hath sanctioned for the use of man.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Out of Ephes. v. 31, 32. "They shall be two in one flesh; this is the great sacrament. But I speak in Christ, and in the church."
A. Out of Ephes. v. 31, 32. "They shall be two in one flesh; this is the great sacrament. But I speak in Christ, and in the church."
Q. What is the matter of this sacrament?
A. The mutual consent of the parties, and giving themselves to one another.
A. The mutual consent of the parties, and giving themselves to one another.
Q. What are the effects of matrimony?
A. It gives special grace to the married couple, to love and bear on with another, as also to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.
A. It gives special grace to the married couple, to love and bear on with another, as also to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.
Q. What is the principle end of marriage?
A. To beget children, and bring them up in the service of God; and the next to this is, that man may have a remedy against concupiscence, and a helper in the way of salvation.
A. To beget children, and bring them up in the service of God; and the next to this is, that man may have a remedy against concupiscence, and a helper in the way of salvation.
Q. How great is the tie of marriage?
A. So great that it can never be dissolved but by death, as you have heard out of Matt. xix.
A. So great that it can never be dissolved but by death, as you have heard out of Matt. xix.
Q. What are the obligations of man and wife?
A. To love, honour, and comfort one another.
A. To love, honour, and comfort one another.
Q. What besides?
A. Husbands are obliged to cherish and comfort their wives; wives to be subject, obey, and love their husbands.
A. Husbands are obliged to cherish and comfort their wives; wives to be subject, obey, and love their husbands.
Q. How prove you that?
A. Out of Col. iii. 18, 19. "Women be subject to your own husbands, as behooveth in our Lord. Men, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them." And out of Ephes. iv. 22, 23. "Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord, because the man is head of the woman as Christ is head of the church," v. 24. "But as the Church is subject to Christ, so also women to their husbands in all things." And again, v. 33. "Let each man love his wife as himself, and let the wife reverence her husband."
A. Out of Col. iii. 18, 19. "Women be subject to your own husbands, as behooveth in our Lord. Men, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them." And out of Ephes. iv. 22, 23. "Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord, because the man is head of the woman as Christ is head of the church," v. 24. "But as the Church is subject to Christ, so also women to their husbands in all things." And again, v. 33. "Let each man love his wife as himself, and let the wife reverence her husband."
Q. What else?
A. To render mutually the marriage debt, and according to that, "Let the husband render his debt unto his wife, and the wife also in like manner to her husband. The women now hath no power of her own body, but the husband, and in like manner the man hath no power of his own body, but the woman." 1 Cor. vii. 3, 4.
A. To render mutually the marriage debt, and according to that, "Let the husband render his debt unto his wife, and the wife also in like manner to her husband. The women now hath no power of her own body, but the husband, and in like manner the man hath no power of his own body, but the woman." 1 Cor. vii. 3, 4.
Q. It is lawful for children to marry without the consent of their parents?
A. It is not; neither is it lawful for parents to force them to marry against their will.
A. It is not; neither is it lawful for parents to force them to marry against their will.
Q. Why are so many unhappy in their marriages?
A. Because they never consulted with God about them, nor sought to have his blessing in them.
A. Because they never consulted with God about them, nor sought to have his blessing in them.
Q. For what other reason?
A. Because they were in the state of sin at their marriage, or married for inordinate love or wealth, and not for the right end of marriage.
A. Because they were in the state of sin at their marriage, or married for inordinate love or wealth, and not for the right end of marriage.
Q. What meaneth the blessing of the priest given in marriage?
A. It is to beg all blessings of God for the new married couple.
A. It is to beg all blessings of God for the new married couple.
Q. Why is the ring put on the fourth finger?
A. Because that is called the heart finger and hath (they say) a vein in it, with reacheth to the heart; so to signify the true and constant love which ought to be between man and wife.
A. Because that is called the heart finger and hath (they say) a vein in it, with reacheth to the heart; so to signify the true and constant love which ought to be between man and wife.
Q. What signifies the ring itself?
A. It is a symbol of perfection and eternity, being equal in all parts, and round in figure, without beginning or end, to imitate the perfect and perpetual love of man and wife.
A. It is a symbol of perfection and eternity, being equal in all parts, and round in figure, without beginning or end, to imitate the perfect and perpetual love of man and wife.
Q. What are the spiritual means to obtain the blessing of good children?
A. Fasting, prayer, and alms-deeds, for so St. Joachim and St. Anne obtained Blessed Virgin Mary; and so the Blessed Virgin became the mother of God.
A. Fasting, prayer, and alms-deeds, for so St. Joachim and St. Anne obtained Blessed Virgin Mary; and so the Blessed Virgin became the mother of God.
Q. What obligations have parents to their children?
A. To instruct them in the faith of Christ, to bring them up in the fear of God, to give them good example, to keep them out of ill company and other occasions of sin, to feed and nourish them, to provide for them in marriage, and to correct their faults.
A. To instruct them in the faith of Christ, to bring them up in the fear of God, to give them good example, to keep them out of ill company and other occasions of sin, to feed and nourish them, to provide for them in marriage, and to correct their faults.
Q. What are the chief and most common impediments of marriage?
A. Consanguinity and affinity, to the fourth degree inclusively; and in the right line all degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, indispensable.
A. Consanguinity and affinity, to the fourth degree inclusively; and in the right line all degrees are prohibited by the law of nature, indispensable.
Q. Can the church dispense in these collateral degrees?
A. She can, excepting only the first collateral degrees of consanguinity, but always sufficient motives must be given.
A. She can, excepting only the first collateral degrees of consanguinity, but always sufficient motives must be given.
Q. How prove you that?
A. The Church having made these laws, for just reasons may dispense in them; but when such dispensations are given, those who seek them ought to consider, that they may deprive themselves of the blessings attending the marriage state, if the motives alleged be not well founded.
A. The Church having made these laws, for just reasons may dispense in them; but when such dispensations are given, those who seek them ought to consider, that they may deprive themselves of the blessings attending the marriage state, if the motives alleged be not well founded.
Next - The Douai Catechism, 1649 - CHAPTER XII. The Cardinal Virtues Expounded.
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