Part One: The Blessings of Marriage

All the blessings of the institution of marriage are included in these three, which are at the same time sources of obligations: children, conjugal fidelity, sacramental character. This doctrine of St. Augustine¹ has been adopted by the Church. He says:² The blessing of conjugal fidelity regards the obligation on the part of the husband and wife to abstain from all sexual relations outside of wedlock; the blessing of children regards the duty on the part of the married couple to receive them with love, to look after their temporal wants with solicitude, and to educate them with religious care; the blessing of the sacrament regards the duty of the parties to live together and forbids the one who departs from the common life, whether it be he or she, from forming a new union, even for the sake of children.

¹ De bono conjugali, chapter 24, number 32; Latin Patrology, 40, 394.

² De Genesi ad litteram, Book IX. chapter 7, number 12; Latin Patrology, 34, 397.

Because every duty which is imposed on us, since it is ordained by God who created us for happiness, has the aspect of a blessing to be enjoyed, and leads to happiness.