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atrimonial

Catechism

BY

RODERICK A. McEACHEN

Priest of Columbus Diocese

Preface by His Eminence CARD. GIBBONS

Published by Ecclesiastical Authority

PUBLISHED BY

CATHOLIC BOOK COMPANY
, WHEELING, W. VA.





atrimonial

Catechism

^BY

RODERICK A. McEACHEN

Priest of Columbus Diocese

Preface by HU Eminence CARD. GIBBONS

Pnblished by Ecclesiastical Authority

PUBLISHED BY

CAtHOLlC BOOK COMPANY
WHEELING. W. VA.



Nil|U

JOSEPH MULLEN, V. G..

Censor Deputatus.

itttftrittmtnr,

PATRICK J. DONAHUE, D. D.,

Bishop of Wheeling.

Copyright, 1913 by
RODERICK A. McEACHEN

All rights reserved.

DeaMed



PREFACE

The family is the foundation of society. Mar-

riage is the bond of family union. Hence the well-

being of society depends primarily upon the purity

and integrity of marriage. In these days, when

scarcely any, save the children of Mother Church,

consider matrimony more than a mere contract, it

is imperative that the faithful be well instructed on

the nature and duties of this great Sacrament. A
false public opinion has condoned the ever-spreading

evil of divorce; the childless home has become the

fashion. If society is to endure the ancient sancti-

ty of marriage, ever cherished and championed by

Mother Church, must be restored to the modern

world.

This little volume has a great mission; it goes

forth to defend the holiness of the marriage state

and the dignity of parenthood; to define the duties

and mutual relations of man and wife; to warn our

people against the abuses that too often surroimd

marriage in modern society. It is concise enough

for the busiest of men, erudite enough for the most

scholarly and simple enough for the humblest of

our people.

That it may teach many to love and respect

the great Sacrament of Matrimony is our ardent

wish.



I



THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY.

CHAPTER I.

0* What is Matrimony?

A. Matrimony is a Sacrament which

unites man and woman in Christian mar-

riage.

Q. Can Christians be married with-

out receiving the Sacrament of Matri-

mony?

A. Christians cannot be married with-

out receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony.

0- Are the marriage contract and

the Sacrament of Matrimony the

same?

A. The marriage contract and the

Sacrament of Matrimony are the same for

Christians.

Q. Can the bond of marriage be

broken?

A. The bond of marris^e cannot be

broken by any power on earth except by

death.



6

Q. What does St. Paul «ay about

the bond of marriage?

A. St. Paul says: '‘A woman is bound

by the law as long as her husband liveth

;

but if her husband die she is at liberty; let

her marry whom she will .”—I Cor. 7:30.

0. Has the Catholic Church ever

granted a divorce?

A. The Catholic Church has never

granted a divorce throughout nineteen

hundred years.

Q. What is to be said of those

who have been divorced in a civil

court?

A. Those who have been divorced in

a civil court ^e still husband and wife as

they were before.

0. Has tl^ state any right to grant

divorce?

A. The state has no right to grant

divorce.

0* What is to be said of divorced

persoi^ who “remarry’’?

A. Divorced persons who ^remarry”



7

are not married; they are living in a state

of public sin.

0. What does St. Luke say about

marriage and divorce?

A. St. Luke says (16:18): ^'Everyone

who putteth away his wife and marrieth

another committeth adultery, and he that

marrieth her that is put away from her

husband committeth adultery.’*

0- Does the Catholic Church ever

permit married people to separate?

A. The Catholic Church sometimes per-

mits married people to separate when there

are grave reasons, but they always remain

husband and wife until death,

0* Are Catholics who have been

granted a separation ever allowed to

marry again?

A. . Catholics who have been granted a

separation cannot, for any reason on earth,

marry again, and they are obliged to be

reconciled if possible.

0* In what case can marriage be

annulled ?

A. Marriage can be annulled only

in case it is invalid.



8

Q. What does St. Augustine say

about the separation of husband and

wife?

A. St. Augustine says: “That wedlock

be not dissolved, and that neither if sep-

arated be united to another.”

0- What does Tertullian, second

century, say of the marriage union?

A. Tertullian says: “How can we find

words to describe the happiness of that

marriage which the Church joins together;

and the oblation confirms; and the bless-

ing seals; the angels report; the Father

ratifies.”

CHAPTER II

THE JURISDICTION OF THE

CHURCH OVER MARRIAGE.

0. Before whom does the Church
command Catholics to be married?

A. The Church commands Catholics to

be married before their own parish priest.

0. May Cat^ olics ever be married



9

before any other than their own parish

priest?

A. Catholics may always be married

before their bishop or before any priest

delegated by their pastor or their bishop.

0. Are Catholics really married if

they go to anybody else than the priest

to get married?

A. Catholics are not really married if

they go to anybody else than the priest

to get married.

Q. What is necessary to make the

contract of marriage valid?

A. To make the contract of marriage

valid, both man and woman must be pres-

ent, and express their consent, with free

will, before the priest and two witnesses.

0* What part does the priest take

in marrying people?

A. The priest is the official witness

constituted by the Church to decide wheth-

er the marriage is lawful, to see that the

proper form of the Sacrament is used, to

see that the parties are properly disposed,

and to bless their union.



10

0- Who then are the real minis-
ters of matrimony?

A. The contracting parties themselves

are the real ministers of the Sacrament of

Matrimony, since they themselves make

the contract.

0* What is the state of Catholics

who go to a squire or preacher to get

married?

A. Catholics who go to a squire or

preacher to get married are not man and

wife and they live in sin as long as they

live together.

0* What must Catholics do who

have gone to another than the priest

to get married?

A. Catholics who have gone to another

to get married must go to the priest and

arrange to be rightly married.

0. Why has the Church alone
power over Christian marriage?

A. The Church alone has power over

Christian marriage because it is one of the

seven Sacraments which Christ gave to the

ministry of His Church.



11

0- Has the State any right in regard

to matrimony?

A. The State has the right to regulate

the civil effects of matrimony, especially

those that pertain to inheritance.

0- Who has authority to marry the
unbaptized?

A. The State has authority to marry

the unbaptized.

0- Has the Church jurisdiction

over the marriage of the unbaptized?

A. The Church has no jurisdiction over

the marriage of the unbaptized; they are

not bound by her laws.

CHAPTER III.

MIXED MARRIAGE.

Q. What is a mixed marriage?

A. A mixed marriage is the union of a
Catholic with one that is not a Catholic.

Q. Does the Church forbid mixed

marriages?

A. The Church does forbid mixed

marriages.



12

0. Why does the Church forbid
mixed marriages?

A. The Church forbids mixed marriages

because they are opposed to the ideal of

Christian marriage.

0* What is the ideal of Christian

marriage?

A. The ideal of Christian marriage is

a life-long union of love and concord be-

tween husband and wife.

0* Why cannot this union exist
in mixed marriages?

A. This union cannot exist in mixed

marriages because husband and wife are

divided on religion, the most important

concern of life.

0. Does the Church ever permit

mixed marriages?

A. The Church sometimes, for grave

reasons, permits mixed marriages.

Q. Under what condition does the

Church grant a dispensation for mixed

marriages?

A. When there is a grave reason, the

Church grants a dispensation for mixed



13

marriages, but only after both parties

make the required promises for safe-guard-

ing the Faith.

Q. What does the Church demand

of the non-Gatholic?

A. The Church demands that the non-

Catholic allow the Catholic party the free

and unhindered exercise of his religion.

,Q. What does the Church demand

for the children of mixed marriages?

A. The Church demands that all the

children born of mixed marriages be brought

up Catholics.

Q. What does the Church hind the

Catholic to do for the non-Catholic?

A. The Church binds the Catholic to

pray for the conversion of the non-Catholic

and set him a good example.

Q. How are mixed marriages cele-
brated?

A. Mixed marriages are celebrated with-

out Mass, without the nuptial blessing and

not in the church.

Q. What are the common evils of
mixed marriages?

A. The common evils of mixed m^~



14

riages are unhappiness, loss of Faith, and

children poorly instructed in religion.

Q. What does St. Ambrose, third

century, say about mixed marriages?

A. St. Ambrose says: “How can that

be called a union where there is no agree-

ment of Faith?”

CHAPTER IV.

MARRIAGE IMPEDIMENTS.

Q. Is marriage invalid between

blood-relations ?

A. Marriage is invalid between blood-

relations within the fourth degree of kin-

dred.

Q. What does the fourth degree of

kindred include?

A. The fourth degree of kindred in-

cludes third cousins and great-grand

nephews and nieces.

0. Is marriage invalid between re-

lations-in-iaw?

A. Marriage is invalid between re-

lations-in-law to the fourth degree of

kindred.



15

Q. Who are the husband’s relations-
in-law to the fourth degree of kindred ?

A. The wife’s blood-relations to the

fourth degree of kindred are the husband’s

relations-in-law to the fourth degree of

kindred.

0. Who are the wife’s relations-in-
law to the fourth degree of kindred?

A. The husband’s blood-relations to the

fourth degree of kindred are the wife’s

relations-in-law to the fourth degree of

kindred.

Q. Is marriage invalid between

sponsors of Baptism and Confirma-

tion and their god-children?

A. Marriage between sponsors of Bap-

tism and Confirmation and their god-

children is invalid unless a dispensation

has been granted.

Q. Is marriage invalid between

sponsors and the parents of their god-

children?

A. Marriage is invalid between spon-

sors and the parents of their god-children

unless a dispensation has been granted.



16

0. Gan a person marry another

whom he has baptized?

A. A person can neither marry the one

whom he has baptized nor that one’s

parents without a dispensation.

0. Are dispensations granted for

marriage between relations?

A. Dispensations for marriage between

relations are sometimes granted for a

sufficient reason.

0* Is marriage forbidden at cer-

tain times of the year?

A. It is forbidden to solemnize marriage

from Ash Wednesday until the second

Monday after Easter, and from the first

Sunday of Advent until after the Feast of

Epiphany.

0* May marriage ever be celebrated

during these times?

A. Marriage may be celebrated during

these times but always without Nuptial

Mass.

0* When does the promise of mar-

riage form an impediment to another

marriage?

A. The promise of marriage forms an



17

impediment to another marriage when it

has been made in writing and signed by

both contracting parties together with the

pastor or bishop or at least two witnesses.

CHAPTER V.

THE BANNS OF MATRIMONY

AND THE GRACES OF

THE SACRAMENT.

Q. What are the banns of matri-

mony?

A. The banns of matrimony are the

three public announcements of the marriage

made on three successive Sundays or Holy-

days.

Q. Why are the banns of matri-
mony published?

A. The banns of matrimony are pub-

lished to obtain the prayers of the faithful

for those who are about to receive the

Sacrament of Matrimony, to prevent

secret marriages, and to discover any

impediments there mightbe to themarriage.



18

Q. Have the faithful anyi obliga-

tion arising from the publication of

the banns?

A. The faithful are bound to make

known any impediments they may know

to the marriage.

Q. Does the Sacrament of Matri-

mony give a special grace?

A. The Sacrament of Matrimony gives

man and wife the grace to live in peace and

love and raise up children to God.

Q. Why are some marriages un-
happy?

A. Some marriages are unhappy be-

cause husband and wife neglect the grace

they have received.

Q. What should the husband and

wife do to profit by the grace of Matri-

mony?

A. To profit by the grace of Matrimony,

husband and wife should practice meekness

and faithfully fulfil the duties of their

state.

Q. What are the duties of the wife?

A. The duties of the wife are to be the



19

queen of the home, the helpmate of her

husband, and the mother and guardian of

her children.

Q. What are the duties of the

husband ?

A. The husband should provide for his

wife and children, be a companion to his

wife and an example of Christian virtue

to his children.

CHAPTER VI.

PREPARATION FOR THE

SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY.

Q. Is marriage a holy state?

A. Marriage is a holy state blessed and

honored by the Church.

Q. What must be the state of your

soul to receive the Sacrament of

Matrimony?

A. To receive the Sacrament of Matri-

mony worthily, you must be in the state

of grace.

Q. How do you make sure that you
are in the state of grace?

A. To make sure that you are in the



20

state of grace, you should receive the

Sacrament of Penance,

0. How should the Sacrament of
Matrimony be received?

A. The Sacrament of Matrimony should

be received at Nuptial Mass in which there

is a special blessing for the bride. (See

translation of the Nuptial Blessing in the

appendix.)

0* How should you pray before

marriage?

A. Before marriage, you should beg

God to give you the grace to receive this

great Sacrament worthily.

0* What should be your disposi-

tion of mind before marriage?

A. Before marriage, you should strive

to understand the dignity of marriage and

the holy purpose for which God instituted

it.

0. Should you receive Holy Com-

munion at the time of marriage?

A. You should receive Holy Com-

munion during the Mass at which you are

married

.



21

Q. Against what state of mind

should you guard on your wedding

day?

A. On your wedding day you should

be not led by the pomp and joviality of

the occasion to forget the great graces that

you receive in the Sacraments of Penance,

Holy Eucharist and Matrimony.

CHAPTER VII.

THE MARRIAGE VOWS.

0- What vows do those make who

marry?

A. Those who marry solemnly promise

to live together in peace and love and

fidelity until death separates them.

Q. What kind of love should exist

between man and wife?

A. There should exist between man and

wife a pure love that will make them cling

to each other through all trials and afflic-

tions.

Q. What fidelity should exist be-

tween man and wife?

A. There should exist between man and



22

wife a fidelity that will make them shrink

from even the slightest danger of dis-

loyalty.

Q. Must man and wife be con-
cerned about each other’s soul?

A. Man and wife should do all they can

to promote each other’s salvation.

Q. How can man and wife best
preserve peace between them?

A. To preserve peace, man and wife

should resolve to bear patiently each other’s

faults and defects.

Q. Is anyone perfect?

A. No one is perfect; every one has

his defects.

Q. What does continuous criticism

often cause?

A. Continuous criticism of each other’s

faults and defects often drives happiness

from the home.

Q. What is to be said of impatience

and scolding?

A. Impatience and scolding are evil

habits, easily acquired, which drive hap-

piness out of many homes.



23

Q. What should be the ambition of

husband and wife for their homes?

A. Both husband and wife should ever

strive to make their home a place of peace

and happiness.

0* How does St. Paul describe the

relations of husband and wife?

A. St. Paul says; “Let women be sub-

ject to their husbands, as to the Lord ; for

the husband is the head of the wife, as

Christ is the head of the Church. *
*

Therefore, as the Church is subject to

Christ, so let the wives be subject to their

husbands in all things. Husbands, love

your wives, as Christ also loved the Church

and delivered Himself up for it.”

—

-Eph. V,

22-25.

CHAPTER VIII.

PURPOSE OF MATRIMONY.

0* What was God’s purpose in

establishing Matrimony?

A. God’s purpose in establishing Matri-

mony was to raise up cbtidrea to Himself,



24

/

Q. What is the greatest blessing

that can befall husband and .wife?

A. The greatest blessing that can be-

fall husband and wife is to be blessed with

many children.

0* What is to be said of those who

complain that they cannot provide for

a large family?

A. Those who complain that they can-

not provide for a large family lack con-

fidence in God.

Q. What homes often produce the

best men and women?

A. The homes in which the father and

mother are raising their children in want,

hardship and self-sacrifice are those which

often produce the noblest men and women.

0. What should they do who have

prayed in vain for children?

A. Those who have prayed in vain for

children would do well to consult a good

physician.

0. What are the secondary pur-

poses of Matrimony?

A. The secondary purposes of Matri-



25

mony are to enable man and wife to enjoy

the peace and pleasures of domestic and

home life.

0- What relation does the family

hold to human society?

A. The family is the basis of all human

society.

Q. What relation does the home

hold to the Church?

A. The success of the Church, in her

divine mission, largely depends upon the

purity and sanctity of the home.

Q. What relation does the home

hold to priests and religious?

A. The character of our priests and

religious depends upon our homes, for they

are the fruits of the home.

CHAPTER IX.

CONJUGAL RELATIONS.

0- What does Christ say of the close

union between man and wife?

A. Christ says: “God made them male

and female; wherefore a man shall leave



father and mother and shall cleave to his

wife and there shall be two in one flesh * *

what therefore God has joined together let

no man put asunder/'

—

St. Mark, 10:6

0. What mutual right is conveyed

in matrimony?

A. In rnatrimony, each of the contract-

ing parties conveys to the other the right

of cohabitation, called the marriage right.

0. Is either party allowed to refuse

the marriage right to the other?

Neither party is allowed to refuse

the marriage right to the other except for

grave reasons.

0* Should each party show con-

sideration for the other in demanding

the marriage right?

A. In demanding the marriage right,

each party should show every considera-

tion for the other.

Q. What is a good means for wives

to preserve the respect and love of their

husbands?

A. As a means of preserving the respect

and love of their husbands, it is well for



27

wives to observe a certain conjugal mod-

esty and always to strive to be neat and

tidy when they appear before their hus-

bands.

Q. May man and wife abstain from
the use of the marriage right?

A. Man and wife may, by mutual

agreement, abstain from the use of the

marriage right even perpetually.

Q. How should the wife respond to
the demands of her husband?

A. The wife should respond with ready

affection to the demands of her husband.

Q. What should the husband re-

member in regard to the marriage

right?

A. The husband should remember that,

at times, he should give way to the dis-

position of his wife.

Q. What thought should sanctify

the conjugal relations of man and
wife?

A. The thought that they are instru-

ments of God in the propagation of the

human race should sanctify the conjugal

relations of man and wife.



28

CHAPTER X.

GESTATION AND CHILDBIRTH.

Q. When does the human life of a
child begin?

A. The human life of a child begins at

the moment of conception.

Q. When is the soul united with

the body?

A. The soul is united with the body at

the moment of conception.

Q. Is it a sin to prevent concep-

tion?

A. It is a grave sin to prevent concep-

tion by any means whatsoever.

Q. What is to be said of those who

use means to counteract conception?

A. Those who use means to counteract

conception commit the grave sin of des-

troying a human life.

Q. Would it be a grave sin to coun-

teract conception a few moments after

it has taken place?

A. It would be eis grave a sin to prevent

conception, even one moment after it has



29

taken place, as it would be to kill a child

after birth.

0. What is to be said of those who

procure or commit abortion?

A. Those who procure or commit abor-

tion are guilty of the most heinous form of

murder.

0- What is to be said of maternal

impressions?

A. It is a mistake to suppose that the

deformities and marks which children

sometimes bear at birth are due to some-

thing that the mother has seen or experi-

enced.

0. How can mothers promote the
well-being of their unborn babes?

A. To promote the well-being of their

unborn babes, mothers should, as far as

possible, avoid violent anger, dejection,

nervous shocks, and all grave disturbances.

0* Is it ever allowed to take the

life of an unborn child to save the

mother’s life?

A. It is never allowed to take the life



30

of an unborn child to save the mother's

life.

0. What is to be said of surgical

operations at childbirth?

A. All necessary operations at child-

birth are lawful except those that include

a direct killing of mother or child.

0. Is it ever allowed to perform the

operation of craniotomy ?

A. It is never allowed to perform the

operation of craniotomy unless it is sure

that the child is dead.

Q. Could not the death of a child

be hastened to save the motherms life?

A. It would be murder to hasten the

death of a child, even one minute, to save

the life of the best mother on earth.

0. What is to be said of extrauter-

ine pregnancy?

A. It is allowed to perform the opera-

tion by which the hemorrhage due to

extrauterine pregancy is stopped even

though the child dies.

Q. What precaution should be tak-



31

en for Baptism when there is im-

minent danger of death at birth?

A. When there is imminent danger of

death at birth, the child should be baptized

on possible part of its body even

before it is entirely born.

Q. Who should administer Bap-
tism to a child not entirely born?

A. It would be well to instruct the

doctor or nurse to administer Baptism

when it becomes necessary before the child

is entirely born.

Q. What thought should bring con-

solation to sulBlering mothers?

A. Suffering mothers should be con-

soled by the thought that God has a special

care for the mothers of His little ones.

Q. What is the noblest thought of

a mother?

A. The noblest thought of a mother is

that she unselfishly risks her own life for

the life of her child.

Q. What should be the state of a

mother’s mind before childbirth?

A. Before childbirth, a mother should



32

calmly put her trust in God and refrain

from all useless worry and fretfulness.

CHAPTER XI.

PARENTHOOD.

Q. What is the dignity of parent-

hood?

A. Parents take part in the creation of

new creatures, made to God’s image and

likeness, and are given charge over the

body and soul of these children,

0- For what will parents have to

answer to God?

A. Parents will have to answer to God

for the immortal souls entrusted to their

care.

Q. What is the first and greatest

duty of parents?

A. The first and greatest duty of

parents is to train up their children in the

fear and love of God.

Q. When should the training of

children begin?

A. The training of children should



33

begin as soon as they commence to notice

the things around them.

0- What is the first virtue that

should be instilled into children?

A. Purity is the first virtue that dbould

be instilled into children.

0. What is the foundation of a

virtuous life?

A. The formation of a right conscience

is the foundation of a virtuous life.

0. When does the formation of

conscience take place?

A. The formation of conscience takes

place in most children, probably before the

age of six years.

0- What is meant by the forma-

tion of a right conscience?

A. The formation of a right conscience

means that there should be instilled into

the child's mind and heart, from motives

of religion, a love for all that is good and

pure and abhorrence for all tha^ is evil.

0. What bearing on later life has

this conscience formed in childhood?

A. This conscience, formed in early



34

childhood, generally makes the basis of

moral character throughout life.

Q. When do children begin to show
instincts to impurity?

A.* Children sometimes show instincts

to impurity even at two years of age.

Q. How should parents guard their
children against the evil inclinations

of nature?

A. Parents should keep a strict watch

over the hands and eyes of their little ones

and deter them from all that would be

immodest in older persons.

Q. How should parents deal with

children as soon as they are able to

talk?

A. As soon as they are able to talk,

children should be taught that there are

certain guards to be placed upon their

hands and eyes.

Q. What should parents demand of

nurses and servant-girls ?

A. Parents should demand that nurses

and servant-girls be modest even with very

young children.



35

Q. What danger is often present

from nurses and servant-girls?

A. A nurse or servant-girl may give
a child a false conscience in regard to purity

and modesty that will remain with it

through life.

Q. Does the danger of impurity

cease with early childhood?

A. The danger of impurity does not

cease but generally becomes greater as the

child grows up.

Q. What may be said of vicious

habits in young men and women?

A. Vicious habits in young men and

women can almost always be traced back

to-some defect in early training.

Q. When should children be taught

to pray?

A. Children should be taught to pray

as soon as they are able to talk.

Q. What is a beautiful custom

followed by many parents?

A. A beautiful custom is for the parents
to have their little ones kneel at their knee

and lisp their prayers with them.



36

0. What other virtues should be

taught very young children?

A. The fundamentals of all the virtues

should be inculcated in the hearts of chil-

dren from the beginning.

Q. How should parents view the

whims and humors of their young

children?

A. Parents should view the whims and

humors of their young children as budding

traits of character which they may bear

through life.

Q. How should parents deal with

their children in general?

A. Parents should deal honorably and

justly with their children and make them

feel their trust and confidence.

0. What should a parent do when

he has unjustly punished his child or

has mistakenly opposed the child’s

correct opinion?

A. If a parent has unjustly punished a

child or has mistakenly opposed the child’s

opinion he should frankly admit his mis-

take.



37

Q. How should parents instruct

their sons and daughters in regard to

marriage?

A. Parents should instruct their sons

and daughters, when they have reached the

proper age, in the duties and dignity of

marriage.

Q. What should young folks do

before promising marriage?

A. Before promising marriage, young

folks should always ask the advice of their

parents.

Q. What kind of courtship should

young folks make before marriage?

A. Young folks should avoid long court-

ships; they can learn to know each other

well by a courtship of six months or a year

at most.

. Q. What should parents do if they

discover a religious vocation amongst

their children?

A. If they discover a religious vocation

amongst their children, parents should

strive to foster it by prayer and good

advice, and should consider it the greatest

blessing that God could send upon their

family.



38

THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

At the proper time, before the Mass begins, the

candidates take their place at the altar>railing, or

in the sanctuary according to custom. They stand,

facing the altar, the bride to the left of the groom.

The bridesmaid to the left of the bride and the

groomsman to the right of the groom.

The priest says to the groom:

N., wilt thou take N., here present

for thy lawful wife according to the rite

of our holy Mother the Church?

The groom answers: I will.

The priest then says to the bride:

N., wilt thou take N., here present,

for thy lawful husband according to the

rite of our holy Mother the Church?

The bride answers: I will.

Then the bride and groom join their right hands *

and make the following promises: The groom first

repeats after the priest:

I, N. N., take thee, N. N. for my

lawful wife, to have and to hold, from

this day forward, for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in

health, until death do us part.



39

Then the bride repeats after the priest:

I, N. N., take thee N. N., for my law-

ful husband, to have and to hold, from this

day forward, for better, for worse, for rich-

er, for poorer, in sickness and in health, un-

til death do us part.

Then the priest says in Latin:

I join you together in marriage, in

the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the priest sprinkles them with holy water;

then blesses the ring saying:

V. Our help is in the name of the

Lord.

R. Who hath made heaven and

earth.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless, O Lord, this ring, which we

bless in Thy name, that she who shall

wear it, keeping true faith unto her spouse,

may abide in Thy peace and in obedience



40

to Thy will, and ever live in mutual love

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priest then sprinkles the ring with holy

water. Then the groom places it on the third fin-

ger of the bride*s left hand, saying:

With this ring I thee wed, and I plight

unto thee my truth.

Then the priest says:

In the name of the Father, and of

the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Then the priest says:

V, Confirm, O Lord, that which

Thou hast wrought in us.

R. From Thy holy temple which is

in Jerusalem.

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Christ, have mercy.

V. Lord, have mercy.

Our Father, etc.

V. And lead us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

V. Save Thy servants.

R. Who hope in Thee, O my God.

V. Send them help, O Lord, from

Thy holy place.



41

R. And defend them out of Sion.

V. Be unto them, Lord, a tower of

strength.

R. From the face of the enemy.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Look down with favor, 0 Lord, we beseech

Thee, upon these Thy servants, and graciously pro-

tect this Thine ordinance, whereby Thou hast pro-

vided for the propagation of mankind; that they

who are joined together by Thy authority may be

preserved by Thy help. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

THE NUPTIAL BLESSING.

Let us pray.

0 Lord, favorably help our supplications, and

graciously protect Thine ordinance, whereby Thou

hast provided for the propagation of the human

race, that this union made by Thy authority may

be preserved by Thy help; through our Lord Jesus

Christ. Amen.

Let us pray:
.
0 God, Who by the might of Thy

power didst make all things out of nothing; Who,



42

at the beginning of the world, when man was made

to the image of God, didst, out of his flesh, make

the woman, and give her to him for a helpmate,

thereby teaching us that what it had pleased Thee

to fashion out of one, it should never be lawful to

disjoin. 0 God, Who by so excellent a mystery, hast

consecrated wedlock, and hast been pleased to make

it a type of the mysterious union of Christ with His

Church: 0 God, by Whom woman is joined to man,

and that alliance ordained in the beginning is en-

dowed with a blessing, which alone was not taken

away, either in punishment of original sin, or by

the sentence of the deluge; look down graciously

upon this Thy handmaid, here joined in marriage,

and who earnestly desires to be taken under Thy

protection. May it be to her a yoke of charity and

peace; faithful and chaste may she marry in Christ,

and be an imitator of holy women; may she be

pleasing to her husband like Rachel; prudent, like

Rebecca; long-lived and faithful, like Sarah, May

the first author of sin have no share in any of her

actions. May she remain flrmly attached to the

Faith and the commandments, and being joined to

one man in we^ock, may she fly all unlawful ad-

dresses; may she fortify her weakness by the

strength of discipline; may she be grave, in mod-

esty worthy of respect, and in heavenly doctrines

learned; may she be fruitful in offspring, approved

and innocent, and may it be at length her happy

lot to arrive at the rest of the blessed in the heav-

enly kingdom. May they both see their children's

children even to the third and foiuth generation,

and attain to happy old age; through our I^rd Jesus

Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee



43

in the unitj^ of the Holy Ghost, one God world with-

out end. Ameru

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,

and the God of Jacob be with you: and may He

fulhl His blessing in you: that you may see your

children’s children to the third and fourth genera-

tion: and afterward enter into the possession of

of eternal life, by the help, of our Lord Jesus Christ

Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth

and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.



44

Learn about

Father McEachen’s Great

Catechetical Works

Catechism Series for Schools and Sun-

day Schools in four parts: 1—Catechism Chart
2—Catechism Primer. 3—^Intermediate CatechisnL
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'^Father McEacheo’s Cqtecl)isms will pro-

duce a race of sturdy Christians.**



45

CATECHISM CHART—A Complete Course

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ASK THOSE WHO ARE USING IT.

Price (with black enamel iron easel) $10.00 Each.

(Sent on approval if desired.)



46

CATECHISM PRIMER,—a well-made little

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It is built upon the same frame work as the

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The Primer has not only simplified its words;

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47

INTERMEDIATE CATECHISM.

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It is not a mere compilation—nor is any part
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Price (half cloth) $10.00 per hundred

(Sample free)



48

COMPLETE CATECHISM.—a development
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Price (half cloth) $15.00 per hundred.

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