Part — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Dissertation II. On Matrimony Itself

¶1.

Matrimony can be both merely a contract, as the matrimony of non-baptized persons, and a contract which at the same time is a sacrament, as matrimony entered by baptized persons. Namely, Christ elevated to the dignity of a sacrament the very contract which existed from the beginning of the human race. Now many of the things to be said hold both for matrimony which is merely a contract and for that which is also a sacrament. Hence before we speak specifically about matrimony insofar as it is a sacrament, we shall first discuss matrimony in general. Therefore let there be:

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