Chapter IX — On Matrimony

§ 1. Nature of the sacrament of Matrimony

1. What is the sacrament of Matrimony?

Matrimony is a sacrament, instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, which establishes a holy and indissoluble union between man and woman, and gives them the grace to love each other in holiness and to bring up their children as Christians.

2. By whom was Matrimony instituted?

Matrimony was instituted by God Himself in the earthly paradise, and in the new Testament was raised by Jesus Christ to the dignity of a sacrament.

3. Has the sacrament of Matrimony some special meaning?

The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the indissoluble union of Jesus Christ with the holy Church, His spouse and our most loving mother.

4. Why is it said that the bond of matrimony is indissoluble?

It is said that the bond of matrimony is indissoluble, that is, that it cannot be dissolved save by the death of one of the spouses, because so has God ordained from the beginning, and so has our Lord Jesus Christ solemnly proclaimed.

5. In Christian marriage can the contract be separated from the sacrament?

No, in marriage among Christians the contract cannot be separated from the sacrament, because for them marriage is none other than the natural contract itself raised by Jesus Christ to the dignity of a sacrament.

6. Among Christians, then, can there be no true marriage that is not a sacrament?

Among Christians there can be no true marriage that is not a sacrament.

7. What effects does the sacrament of Matrimony produce?

The sacrament of Matrimony: 1. gives an increase of sanctifying grace; 2. confers the special grace to faithfully fulfill all the duties of matrimony.

§ 2. Ministers, rite, and dispositions

8. Who are the ministers of this sacrament?

The ministers of this sacrament are the spouses themselves, who reciprocally confer and receive the sacrament.

9. In what way is this sacrament administered?

This sacrament, preserving the nature of a contract, is administered by the contracting parties themselves by declaring, in the presence of their parish priest, or of one delegated by him, and of two witnesses, that they unite in matrimony.

10. What use, then, is the blessing the parish priest gives to the spouses?

The blessing the parish priest gives to the spouses is not necessary to constitute the sacrament, but is given to sanction in the name of the Church their union, and to call ever more upon them the blessings of God.

11. What intention must one who contracts matrimony have?

One who contracts matrimony must have the intention: 1. to do the will of God, who calls him to such a state; 2. to work in it the salvation of his own soul; 3. to bring up his children as Christians, if God grants him to have any.

12. In what manner must the spouses dispose themselves to receive the sacrament of Matrimony with fruit?

The spouses, in order to receive the sacrament of Matrimony with fruit, must: 1. heartily commend themselves to God to know His will, and to obtain from Him those graces which are necessary in such a state; 2. consult their own parents before making the promise, as obedience and the respect due to them require; 3. prepare themselves by a good confession, even general, if needful, of their whole life; 4. avoid every dangerous familiarity of behavior and word in conversing together.

13. What are the principal obligations of persons united in matrimony?

Persons united in matrimony must: 1. keep inviolate conjugal fidelity and always conduct themselves as Christians in all things; 2. love each other mutually, bearing with each other in patience, and live in peace and concord; 3. if they have children, think seriously about providing for them according to need; give them a Christian education; and leave them free to choose the state to which they are called by God.

§ 3. Conditions and impediments

14. What is necessary to validly contract Christian marriage?

To validly contract Christian marriage it is necessary to be free from every diriment matrimonial impediment, and to freely give one's consent to the contract of marriage before one's own parish priest, or a priest delegated by him, and two witnesses.

15. What is necessary to lawfully contract Christian marriage?

To lawfully contract Christian marriage it is necessary to be free from impedient matrimonial impediments, to be instructed in the principal things of religion, and to be in the state of grace, otherwise a sacrilege would be committed.

16. What are matrimonial impediments?

Matrimonial impediments are those circumstances which render marriage either invalid or unlawful. In the first case they are called diriment impediments, in the second impedient impediments.

17. Give me some example of a diriment impediment.

Diriment impediments are, for example, consanguinity to the fourth degree, spiritual kinship, the solemn vow of chastity, diversity of worship between baptized and non-baptized, etc.

18. Give me some example of an impedient impediment.

Impedient impediments are, for example, forbidden time, the simple vow of chastity, etc.

19. Are the faithful obliged to make known to the ecclesiastical authority the matrimonial impediments they know of?

The faithful are obliged to make known to the ecclesiastical authority the matrimonial impediments they know of; and it is for this reason that the publications are made by the parish priests.

20. Who has the power to establish matrimonial impediments, to dispense from them, and to judge of the validity of Christian marriage?

The Church alone has the power to establish impediments and to judge of the validity of marriage among Christians; just as the Church alone can dispense from those impediments which she has established.

21. Why does the Church alone have the power to establish impediments and to judge of the validity of marriage?

The Church alone has the power to establish impediments, to judge of the validity of marriage, and to dispense from the impediments which she has set, because in Christian marriage the contract cannot be separated from the sacrament, and therefore the contract too falls under the power of the Church, to whom alone Jesus Christ conferred the right to make laws and decisions in sacred things.

22. Can civil authority dissolve by divorce the bond of Christian marriage?

No, the bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by civil authority, because it cannot intrude in the matter of sacraments and separate what God has joined together.

23. What is civil marriage?

Civil marriage is nothing other than a formality prescribed by law for the end of giving and assuring the civil effects to the married and to their offspring.

24. Is it enough for a Christian to perform only civil marriage, that is, the civil contract?

For a Christian it is not enough to perform only the civil contract, because this is not a sacrament, and therefore is not true marriage.

25. If the spouses lived together only by civil marriage, in what condition would they find themselves?

If the spouses lived together only by civil marriage, they would be in a state of continual mortal sin, and their union would always remain unlawful before God and the Church.

26. Must civil marriage also be performed?

Civil marriage must also be performed, because, although this is not a sacrament, it nevertheless serves to guarantee to the contracting parties and to their children the civil effects of the conjugal society; and so, as a general rule, the religious marriage is not permitted by the ecclesiastical authority unless the acts prescribed by civil law have been initiated.