Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-07
NOVEMBER 1866.

In 'thee.p 10 poor little one, JOsseu Will
tempest without all comfort: behold VIII
lay thy stones in order, and will lay thy
foundations with sapDhires. And 4 VIII
make thy bulwarks Of jasper, aud thy gates
of craven stones, and all thy borders ol
desirable stones. All thy children shall be
taught of the Lord, and great shall be tue
peace of thy children. And thou shalt be
founded in Justice; depart far from oppres-'
sion, for thou shalt not fear; and from ter M
ror, for 1t shall not come near thee. NO
weapon that is formed against thee shall
prosper, and every tongue that ,resists thee
In Judgment, thou shalt condemn" . ,ri...
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMoNY.l, -.If
Totfiat sacrament OF the Church which Is
highes1 in its typical signification--the sa-
Fcrhment of fmatrimOny-we feelit our duty
| to direct In q particular manner your at-
tention, From the beginning, as we learn
from st. Paul, the union of man and nwo-
man was great mystery or sacrament;
because, from the beginning, it prefgured
the union of Christ with his Church. In
nothing, perhaps is the influence OF the
spirit OF truth more evident in the teach
| ing of the Church, than In the care with
| which she has protected this" great sacra-
ment" which, byso many, agreeaDly TO
what st. Paul had foretold, was stigmatized
|
exalted above sacred virginity, contrary to
4 the express teachings of Christ and his in
spired Apostle. The holiness of Christian
.matrimony is connected with our most sa-
cred associations and duties; and 1t cannot
| be lost sight of in however small degree,
without entailing the most serious conse-
quences The Church has shown, ln refer
1 ence to this subject, aspirit OF watchfulness
and solicitude, which alone would entltle
| her to the gratitude of man. and cause her
| to be regarded as the most faithful guardian
| of public aud private morality. Many OF
the innumefable contests in which she was
compelle to engage with the depositaries
of the civil power, during the middle ages
were in defense Of the stability ana sanctlty
of the marriage-tie; and, at later period,
she preferred to see England torn from her
side, rather than yield compliance with the
| will of monarch, who sacrificed his coun-
try's faith to his unbridled passions. In
this matter she knew no distinction be-
| tween the private man and the monarch ;
contrary to what an apol0gist for the worst
i passions and most cruel deeds of this
unhappy ruler insists should have been her
line of conduct. Even in our own days,
her conservative authority has been exerted
ID the same cause; and the anger Of the first
Napoleon was incurred by the refusal OF
Plus VII, of holy memory, to declare in
valid marriage contracted between that
rulers brother and Protestant lady OF the
city in which we are now assembled
When this same monarch sought to break
his first faith, he was obliged to have re-
course to an extinct tribunal OF the diocese
of Paris-resuscitate for that special pur-
pose-which presumed to decide question
which the wisdom of the Holy See has re
served for its own exclusive jurisdiction. n
We recall these facts, because they mos
strongly express the principle Of the
Church In regard to matrimony, and mus
be regarded by every well regulated mint
as among the brightest jewels of her crown
We recall them, also, in order to enforce
our solemn admonition to our flocks, Il
give no ear to the false and degrading the
Dries on the subject of matrimony, whicl
are boldly put forward by the enemies o.
p the Church. According to these theories
marriage is mere civil contract, which
the civil power is to regulate, and from
which an injured or dissatisfied party MAJ
release himself or herself by the remedy o
divorce, so as to be able lawfully to con
tract new engagements. This is in eviden
, contradiction with the words of Christ
h "What God has Joined together let no maj
nut asunder." AS the Guardian of God
Iholy la#, the Church condemns this falls
> theory, from which would followa success
sive polygamy, no less opposed to the unity
and stability of Christian marriage thai
that simultaneous polygamy, which, to tn
. scandal of Christendom, is found withil
our borders. No State law can authOriZ
divorce so as to permltthe parties divorces
to contract new engagements; and ever.
such new engagement, contracted during
the Joint lives Of the parties so divorced
involves the crime Of adultery. We .rele
with pain TO the scandalous multiplication
, of these unlawful separations, which, NOR
than any other cause, are sapping the foun
dations of morality and preparing societ
for an entire dissolution of the basis o.
which it rests. .zz9fi.ug yu OIL.
: Ii so many marriages become unhappy
and the bond which .unites the marie
, couple prove so often CALLING yoke, this
J to be attributed, IN most instances to tn
neglect and disregard of the Church's law
in reference to this subject. These, as yo
know, forbid marriage between person
/ related to each other in certain degrees 3
. consanguinity and affinity, as also betwee
, Catholics and nOn-Catholics. Whateve
exceptions may be found to the geners
observation as to the result OF sue
, unions, they are in principle condemne
; by the Church; and that from the most Sc
; rious motives which in the case of cou
: sanguinity, are founded in well-ascertaine
J physiological principles; in the case {
3 affinity, in the danger to which possib
: unions may place parties who are hece'
sarily brought into lraternal relations; an
] in the case of mixed marriages, to the dar
ger of perversiOn, to which the Catholi
| party and the offspring Of such marriage
are exposed, ~ E,... .f.,-s.t, .,.. T.. a..,,r..
ance of these laws Of the Church in relS
: tiorl to marriage is required in order thu
l Christians, should. discharge their entil
duty, when ABOUT to enter the conjIgi
state. Its sacred character, and the obi
cations toward Gods society which it in
poses, should always be kept In mind. Pr
J rity of life, and affection that has bette
4 and more lasting grounds than the impuls
+ of passion, are the only proper dispos
D tions for entering upon d state of Iii
4 which death alone can change, and whic
3 involves SO many important consequence
g for time and eternity.
| who, asks Tertullian, can express I'll
4 happiness of that marriage which Itf
Church approves, which sacrifice 9TH
J 4 mass) confirms, and which blessing sea
, angels announce it, and the, Father ra
5 II iiies? 10 L"D 'a'' va 'VI
Y Bearing in mind hesanctity of marriag
and the time-honOred usages of the ChurC
= in the administration of the saerament,JV
cannot too strongly urge upon you the in
0 II portance of contracting it before the alt;
= of(s0d, and with the Marriage Mass, so as
Q receive that especial blessing earri
; with it so many ygraces, TO enable those wi
h enter upon this holy state to fulfil its mo
}, important duties. y" 5''' N'''l hii'ii'
{ ~ p6[ ll9l 7 NO. ii gUiftlls7 40 os9