Question 64 — The Payment of the Marriage Debt

In the next place we must consider those things which are annexed to marriage: (1) The payment of the marriage debt; (2) Plurality of wives; (3) Bigamy; (4) The bill of divorce; (5) Illegitimate children.

Under the first head there are ten points of inquiry:

(1) Whether one spouse is bound to pay the marriage debt to the other?

• (2) Whether one is sometimes bound to pay without being asked?
• (3) Whether a wife may demand the debt during the menses?
• (4)Whether she is bound to pay it at that time?
• (5) Whether husband and wife are equal in this matter?
• (6) Whether the one without the other’s consent may take a vow that prohibits the payment of the debt?
• (7) Whether it is forbidden to ask for the debt at any particular time?
• (8) Whether it is a mortal sin to ask for it at a holy time?
• (9) Whether it is an obligation to pay it at the time of a festival?
• (10) Whether weddings should be forbidden at certain times?