Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume III. On the Virtue of Chastity (1928) › Book II. On Conjugal Chastity in Particular › Appendix II. On Instruction in Relation to Chastity › II. Matrimonial Instruction

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

In Italian

134.

It is the desire, indeed the command, of the Church that the priest set forth certain necessary doctrines to those who intend to contract marriage; these are:

I. The principal ends of marriage are: 1. the generation of children; 2. the mutual help of the spouses.

II. With regard to the first end it must be noted that some acts are permitted to spouses, while others are prohibited.

  1. It is permitted: a) The conjugal act, which consists in the union of bodies. Let it be noted that for the conjugal act the woman must lie supine, and the man must place himself over her; and without a reason this position ought not be changed. b) Everything is lawful that is necessary or useful for the completion of the conjugal act, for example mutual touches, etc.

  2. It is prohibited: 1. Under grave sin, everything that can prevent generation. Therefore you must not listen to anyone who advises you to limit the number of offspring. Have confidence in divine Providence, which, by giving you children, will also give you the means to rear them. 2. It is prohibited to excite grave sensual commotions in yourselves mutually, except in the case in which you can and wish to complete the conjugal act.

III. The conjugal act is not only lawful, but becomes obligatory when one of the spouses seriously asks it. In this case it is not lawful to refuse without a grave reason, for example in case of sickness.

IV. If the Lord deigns to bless your marriage, the woman must avoid everything that can harm the fetus which she bears in her womb, such as great labors, lifting heavy weights, grave internal and external emotions, for example of anger or sadness, the immoderate use of the bicycle, etc. Let the husband take account of the condition of his wife, and during this time let them pray to God for the happy birth of the child, so that it may be able to receive Baptism.

V. Finally, I must make some observations concerning Baptism.

  1. Must the fruit of the woman's delivery always be baptized?

Yes; and this is so both in the case of miscarriage, that is, premature birth, and also when a child born regularly gives no sign of life, and even when it is still enclosed in the membranes.

  1. Who must baptize the child?

a) In the normal case, when the child is healthy, it must be baptized in church.

b) If there is danger of death, it must be baptized by one of those present. The father and mother can do it only when there is no other person who knows how, or who can do it decently, and there is urgent necessity of baptizing the child. In case of miscarriage Baptism will generally have to be administered by the father or by the mother.

  1. How must Baptism be administered?

a) If the child can be baptized on the head, let him be baptized in the ordinary manner; that is, you will first clean his head in such a way that the water can wet it. Then take ordinary water, lukewarm if you have it ready; blessed water is not necessary. With it wet the head of the child, saying: I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

But if you cannot baptize the child on the head, baptize him on any other member, however small it may be, even on a finger of the hand or foot. If afterward some other more important member should come to light, such as the hand or foot, baptize him again on this member, until you succeed in baptizing him on a notable part of the body, such as the breast, the back, the shoulders, and finally the head; for only then can one be certain of the validity of Baptism, when it has been administered on the head. On the contrary, if after having baptized him on a finger you can baptize him on the head, omit the Baptism on the intermediate members. Every time you cannot baptize on the head, in the ablution of the member you will use this formula: If you can be baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. If finally you succeed in baptizing on the head, you will say: If you are not baptized, I, etc.1

b) How must Baptism be administered when the fetus does not have human form, or is still enclosed in the afterbirth membranes?

In these cases it belongs to the father or mother to administer Baptism. Great attention is needed, since the salvation of a soul is at issue, because an unbaptized child cannot enter heaven. Therefore, if after the conjugal act, even if only a few days have passed, the woman should expel a substance of uncertain nature, you must not simply throw it away, because the fetus could be there. The fetus is enclosed in a little bladder full of a whitish fluid. If you find this little bladder, place it on a cloth. Then pour a quantity of water over the little bladder,2 saying: If you can be baptized, I baptize you, etc. Then, keeping it always immersed in the water somewhat obliquely, break it with the thumb and index finger of the hands, making the fluid come out; and then, while moving the little bladder a little in the water, say: If you can be baptized, I baptize you, etc. Then remove the membrane from the water.

1 Cf. p. 118, note.

2 Cf. p. 119, note 1.

In Italian