Ch. XV Matrimony p 151-158

Matrimony was raised to the level of a Sacrament by Christ. Remember, a Sacrament is an “Outward Sign instituted by Christ to give Grace”. A Catholic Marriage then is Holy and gives the couple the Graces needed to form a good Catholic family. The husband and wife become one flesh. Almighty God has created men and women with differences that complement one another. In a typical Catholic family, the husband is thought of as the head of the family and provides as best he can, not only the physical needs of food, shelter and protection, but also the spiritual direction in the family. The wife on the other hand is thought of as the heart of the family. She has the more important duties of a Catholic homemaker. She has a major roll in nourishing not only the physical needs of the family but also the spiritual needs, particularly the nourishment of future vocations. Since the family is the basic building block of human society, whole civilizations rise or fall, depending on how well Catholic Mothers are allowed and encouraged to do their primary job, as heart of the family. The ideal model for a Catholic family is the Holy Family. The Catholic family, should strive therefore to reflect the holiness, love, obedience and joy of the Holy Family.

MARRIAGE VOWS LAST TILL “DEATH DO THEM PART”:

“Marriage joins two baptized Christians together in a special way until death. Jesus Himself clearly said that those who are married remain married until one of the spouses dies. This Law of God, which is plainly stated in many parts of the Bible (1 Cor.7:10-11 and 39, Mark 10:6-12, Romans 7:2-3), can never be changed by any man-made law or court ruling. Because men and women are not free to change their minds about being husband and wife once they are truly married, those who are married and those who are thinking about getting married must understand that marriage lasts until death.”[103]

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Marriage is for a lifetime because it takes that long to be mom and dad and grandma and grandpa!

SELECTING A MARRIAGE PARTNER:

Selecting a marriage partner is one of the most important decisions a person makes in life because it lasts “till death do them part”. It is usually made when we are still very young, less than 25 years old, and sometimes we or our future spouse have not yet decided “who we are”. Therefore, prudence requires that care be taken selecting a lifetime partner. Do not be in a hurry. Get to know them well first. Some questions to consider before getting serious about someone are:

1. Are there any impediments (age, previous marriage, spiritual or kinship relationships, etc)?

2. Will they make it easier or harder for you and your children to save your souls? Are they Catholic? Are they good Catholics? Are they willing to sincerely convert to the Catholic Faith before you are married? Will there be conflicts with the Catholic Faith and their family (mother, father, siblings, etc.)?

3. Are you both ready to take on the serious responsibilities of a family?

WHAT ABOUT DIVORCE AND ANNULMENTS?

The family is the basic unit of civilization. The deterioration of the morals of our modern society, can be traced to the breakdown of the family. Children from broken homes often lack proper guidance and example in forming their morality. They in turn grow up and create broken families. This evil and its causes eventually seem “normal”! Civilization deteriorates as mankind, whenever it ignores the guidance of the Catholic Church, becomes lawless and barbaric. As the population becomes more lawless, the government must become more dictatorial. A government, with individual freedom, will only work when the population has a high level of individual morality. It is not hard to understand why Christ in His wisdom and love, teaches us about the importance of the family and therefore forbids divorce.

WHAT IS DIVORCE?

Divorce is when a valid marriage is dissolved and the individuals are then free to marry again (a severe blow to children). In the eyes of God, there is normally no such thing as a divorce. However, under severe circumstances such as cruelty, a Catholic may be allowed to get a “Separation” and a civil “divorce”. In the eyes of the state, they are no longer married. In the eyes of God, they are still married and cannot remarry until their spouse dies.

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WHEN IS A DIVORCE ALLOWED?

There are two exceptions where a divorce is allowed:^[104]

1. Pauline Privilege (see 1 Cor. 7:12-15) which allows the dissolution of marriage contracted between two unbaptized persons, one of whom becomes a convert to Christianity, whilst the other refuses to be converted or to live in peace with the convert. In this instance the convert is free to marry a Christian, and at the moment of the second marriage the bond of the first marriage is completely dissolved.

2. In the case of unconsummated marriage between two baptized persons, or between a baptized and an unbaptized person, such marriages can be dissolved by entering a Religious Order and also by dispensation of the Pope.

WHAT IS AN ANNULMENT?

An annulment is a statement by the Church that a couple has never been married, that their apparent “marriage” was null and void and didn’t really happen in the first place, because of one or more impediments such as: insanity, coercion, age, relationship, previous marriage, marriage of a Catholic outside The Church, impotence, etc.

Since Vatican II, the Modernists in The Church, have greatly increased the number of “Annulments”. The Church has no power to annul a valid marriage. I fear that in most of these cases, the first marriage was valid in the eyes of God and therefore these so called “Annulments” aren’t true, in which case subsequent marriages aren’t valid! It’s a great evil to allow families to form where the parents are not married! How much harder it will be for them correct their situation and save their souls!

Always consult a good Traditional Catholic Priest on questions concerning Marriage!

OBJECTIONS TO THE CATHOLIC POSITION ON MARRIAGE:

Many of the points made in this Chapter are taken from Reference No. 104: “Marriage Quizzes to a Street Preacher” by Radio Replies Press, Inc. St. Paul Minn.

1. Divorce is OK.:

The Protestant “Reformers” claim that divorce is OK because the Jews were allowed to divorce and remarry. If divorce is bad, how come the Jews were allowed not only to divorce, but to have many wives!

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CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

After the deluge, the unity of marriage was suspended by God for the Patriarchs in order to increase the human race.

Moses permitted the Jews to practice divorce “because of the hardness of their hearts”. This error was rebuked, corrected and reformed by Christ. Christ pointed out that Moses’s concession was contrary to the original institution of marriage and He revoked both concessions (divorce and more than one wife) when He said “from the beginning it was not so”. See Matt. 19:8

2. Mixed Marriages:

Why does the Catholic Church forbid mixed marriages?

CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

(1) Marriage is a Sacrament. In order to receive the Sacrament, one must be Baptized. The Church has no certainty that any non-Catholic baptism if valid.

(2) It is a Sacrilege to receive the Sacrament in the state of Mortal Sin. A Catholic can get into the State of Grace through the Sacrament of Confession.

(3) The bad example to the children of one of their parents that never fulfills Catholic Duties.

(4) The Catholic party is constantly subject to discouragement in the practice of their Religion.

(5) The Catholic party is exposed to the danger of losing The Faith and thereby their Salvation!

(6) Marriage is difficult enough without starting out with a disagreement over Religion particularly when the non-Catholic partner doesn’t understand Catholic ways, has no sympathy at all with the Catholic party on many vital matters and even rejects the claims of the Catholic Church.

(7) The non-Catholic party accepts Divorce as an option if things get difficult. The Catholic party knows that they are still married “till death do them part”.

Where does The Bible forbid mixed marriages?

CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

It does not matter if the Bible did not forbid them. Not every detail of Christian practice is there. Christ gave The Church the power to make such legislation as she might think necessary at various times. However we know God did not approve of mixed marriages. The Jews were forbidden to marry outside the true religion. See Josue (Joshua) XXIII: 12-13. See also 2 Cor.6:14.

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Does The Church ever allow Mixed Marriages?

CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

The Catholic Church will allow mixed marriages under the following conditions:

(1) There must be just and grave reasons for granting the dispensation.

(2) The non-Catholic party must guarantee that they shall remove all danger of perversion from the Catholic party and both parties must promise to raise all children in the Catholic Religion only.

(3) There must be a moral certainty that these guarantees will be fulfilled. These guarantees gravely oblige both parties and are made in writing, and signed by both parties.

(4) The Catholic party is also under obligation to try by prudent means to procure the conversion of the non-Catholic to the Catholic Faith.

What are some of the reasons for allowing a mixed marriage?

CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

(1) If there is hope that the conversion of the non-Catholic or his family will take place.

(2) If a mixed marriage is the only way to avoid scandal.

(3) If there is danger of marrying before a Protestant minister or justice of the peace.

3. Jurisdiction of SSPX Priests for Marriages:

The Marriage of a Catholic must be witnessed by the Pastor in the Parish of the bride or a Priest appointed by him. Since the Priests of SSPX do not have the permission from the local N.O. Pastor, how can they witness marriages?

CATHOLIC RESPONSE:

In the present crises in The Church, The Church provides Jurisdiction to the SSPX Priests, due the need and the right of Catholics to have access to Priests, who are not tainted by the Modernist Heresy so prevalent in The Church today. See Chapter IX in these Notes for a detailed analysis of “Supplied Jurisdiction”.

[103] “Catholic Truth For Youth”, Father Robert J. Fox.

^[104]. See “Marriage Quizzes to a Street Preacher”, Q. No. 17, by Radio Replies Press, Inc. St. Paul, Minn.

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