THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY. THE holy state of Matrimony was in the beginning of the world instituted by the Almighty, and, under the law of nature, had a particular blessing annexed to it. man to his own image: male and female he created them. And God created God blessed them saying, increase and multiply, and fill the earth. Gen. i. 27. 28. Under the Mosaic Law, the Almighty

more distinctly announced its dignity and obligations. Afterwards under the Christian Law our Divine Redeemer sanctified this state still more, and from a natural and civil contract, raised it to the dignity of a sacrament. And St. Paul declared it to be a representation of that sacred union, which Jesus Christ had formed with his spouse, the Church. This is a great sacrament, but I speak in Christ and in the Church. Ephes. v. 32.

This sacrament was instituted by Jesus Christ, in order to bestow on those who enter into the married state a particular grace, to enable them to discharge all the duties required of them. It enables them to live together in union, peace, and love. It enables and purifies that natural affection, which founded on virtue, and sanctioned by religion, can alone constitute the happiness of a married life. It corrects the inconstancy of the human heart; it softens down the asperities of temper, and enables each party to bear with each other's defects, with the same indulgence as if they were their own. It causes them to entertain sentiments of mutual respect, to preserve inviolable fidelity towards each other, and to vanquish every unlawful desire. It gives grace to subdue, or regulate the motions of concupiscence, and to avoid every impropriety inconsistent with the sanctity of their state. For there is an innocence and purity as necessary in a married, as in a single life. It moreover gives them grace to discharge well that most important duty of training up their children in the fear and love of God. For these duties annexed to the married state, cannot be fulfilled without great exertions, nor will those exertions be successful, without the blessing aud grace of God.

Therefore they who intend to enter into this state, ought to proceed with the greatest prudence, and make the best possible preparation, that they may obtain these precious and abundant graces from the Almighty.

1. They ought by fervent and devout prayer, to implore the divine assistance to guide them in their choice of a proper person; for on the prudent choice which they make will very much depend their happiness both in this life and in the next. They should be guided by the good character and virtuous dispositions of the person of their choice, rather than by riches, beauty, or any other worldly considerations, which ought to be but secondary motives.

2. They ought to enter into this holy state with the pure intention of promoting the honour and glory of God, and the sanctification of their own souls; and not merely from any earthly motive, or sensual gratification.

3. They ought, moreover, to select a person of their own religion, for the Catholic Church has always, by every means

in her power, discouraged mixed marriages; and experience shows, that a want of union in religion between the husband and wife is frequently attended with the worst consequences, both to themselves and to their children. A catholic, on marrying a person of another religion, cannot be allowed to enter into an agreement, that any of the children shall be brought up in any other than the Catholic faith. 4. Before they make any advance in a matter of such great importance, they ought to ascertain whether there be any impediment to prevent their lawful union and parents are in duty bound to prevent too great an intimacy between their children and relations, within the prohibited degrees of kindred. First, second, and third cousins, are within the prohibited degrees.

5. They who intend to marry ought to ask the advice of their parents or guardians, &c.

6. Those who keep company with a view to marriage, should be careful never to take or allow any indecent familiarities, for these are sinful, and draw down upon them the just indignation of God, in place of that blessing of which they then stand so much in need.

7. It is also advisable some time previous to their marriage, to inform their director of their intentions, that so he may have time and opportunity to point out to them the preparation most useful for them, and instruct them in the duties and obligations of the state of life into which they propose

to enter.

8. They must by worthily approaching the sacrament of penance, obtain the pardon of their sins; for should they receive matrimony without purity of conscience, they would deprive themselves of the grace of the sacrament, and be guilty of a sacrilegious profanation of this holy institution.

9. The Church in the General Council of Trent, Sess. 24, c. i. ever solicitous for the welfare of her children, exhorts the faithful before their marriage to receive with devotion the holy communion.

10. At the time of marriage, they ought with the greatest decorum and reverence to approach the altar, where in the presence of God and his Church, they are about to enter into a solemn contract and engagement not to be broken, but by death, and receive the benediction of God's minister, with humble and sincere devotion.

11. When the married couple leave the church, they ought to carry with them feelings of respect for the holy sacrament which they have received, and of gratitude to God for his mercies. They should spend the day in such a manner, as not to lose the blessing which they received in the morning. They ought to celebrate their marriage like holy Tobias, in