Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume II › Book III. On the Aids of the Christian Life, or on the Sacraments › Treatise VIII. On Matrimony › Dissertation I. On Those Things which Customarily or Necessarily Precede Matrimony

Part — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Part IV. Prenuptial Instruction

698.

I. The necessity and matter of instruction are set forth in canon 1033: "Let the pastor not omit, according to the diverse condition of the persons, to teach the betrothed:

  1. "The sanctity of the sacrament of matrimony," that is, the nature and dignity of matrimony, and the manner of preparing themselves worthily for the reception of the sacrament; wherefore "let him vehemently exhort them, before the celebration of matrimony, to confess their sins diligently and piously receive the Most Holy Eucharist."

  2. "The mutual obligations of spouses," especially the licit use of matrimony.

  3. "The obligations of parents toward offspring," especially the manner of conferring Baptism in a case of necessity. Likewise:

  4. At least the first elements of Christian doctrine, if the bridegroom or bride are found ignorant; "but if they refuse this instruction, there is no place for rejecting them from matrimony, according to the norm of canon 1066," that is, let him assist only if a grave cause is urgent, concerning which, if it can be done, let him consult the Ordinary.1

II. Instructor and time of instructing. The instruction is to be made by the pastor (canon 1033), for example on the occasion of the examination of the betrothed, and generally before proceeding to the publications. But instruction concerning the use of matrimony and the manner of baptizing in a case of necessity is to be made a little before or immediately after the matrimony has been contracted. For an example of instruction, see our little work whose title is On the Virtue of Chastity and the Opposed Vices.

1 Roman Ritual, title VII, chapter 1, n. 14; Pontifical Commission, June 2-3, 1918 (A.A.S. 1918, p. 345).

Prenuptial Examination, Publications and Instruction