A Topic of Moral Theology

Obligations of Husband and Wife

The mutual duties of the married: love, fidelity, cohabitation, and the shared care of household and children.

Within this topic

See also Matrimony — in The Sacraments · The Marriage Debt — in Matrimony

Also asked about as…

headship · marriage duties · spouses · submission of wives (ed.)

In the index as Spouses · Wife · Husband · Spouse · Marriage · Adultery · Love · Married · Matrimony · Obedience · Birth control · Cohabitation of spouses · Marital power · Mother · Mutual imperfect venereal acts of spouses · Paul, St. · Piety · Rights and duties of spouses · Separation *a mensa et toro* · Alms of the wife · Betrothed · Bishop · Catechism · Cohabitation

In the manuals

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. I, Bk. VI, Pt. IV, Chapter IV. Obligations of Husband and Wife, nn. 1, 2, 3 & 4 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manual of Moral Theology (Manuale Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Ch. IV, Article II. On Irritation, n. 662 — VII. The effect of irritation is that the vow is entirely extinguished, so that in no case does the obligation afterward revive (can. 1312, § 1). Corollary. The following can irritate vows: 1. A father can irritate vows … Read in context →

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Ch. IV, Article III. On Suspension, n. 667 — V. The effect of suspension is relaxation for a time of the obligation of the vow; namely, when the right of the one suspending ceases, it revives, unless in the meantime it has ceased from another cause (can. 1312, § 2)… Read in context →

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. IV, Section III. On the Mutual Duties Both of Other Blood-Relatives and of Spouses, n. 717 — II. Duties of spouses. 1. Spouses owe one another love, affective and effective, conjugal fidelity, and living together. 2. The husband is bound: 1. diligently to administer family affairs; 2. rightly to govern the wife … Read in context →

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. IV, Sect. III, Scholion. On the Emancipation of Women, n. 718 — I. Moderns distinguish a threefold emancipation of women: physiological, economic, and social: physiological, insofar as women wish, by their own free will, to be freed or to be free from the burdens of a wife, whether c… Read in context →

Vol. I, Bk. II, Tr. II, Diss. I, Pt. VII, Sect. I, Ch. I, Art. II, § II, Point II. On the Ownership of Spouses, n. 779 — The goods of spouses are distinguished into common and proper, according as they belong to both or to either one. It depends on the law what kind the goods of spouses are: whether common, or proper, or partly common and … Read in context →

Moral Theology: A Complete Course (McHugh & Callan)

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. III, Art. 2. Duties of Members …, Husband and Wife, n. 2613 — The Duties of Husbands and Wives. The Duties of Husbands and Wives.—Conjugal obligations may be classed under three heads according to the three ends of marriage. (a) Thus, the first blessing of marriage is offspring, and this imposes upon parents the ob… Read in context →

Commentaries on the Nature of Moral Theology, on Conscience and Probabilism, on the Fourth Precept, and on the Sixth and Ninth Precepts of the Decalogue (Commentarii)

Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910), Third Commentary: On the F…, VI. On the Obligations of Spouses, nn. 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 & 103 (19 passages — hover a number to read it)

Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910), Third Commentary: On the F…, VII. The Rights and Obligations of Spouses Concerning Goods, nn. 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 & 126 (32 passages — hover a number to read it)

Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910), Third Commentary: On the F…, VIII. On the Equality of Woman with Man, nn. 127, 128, 129, 130, 131 & 132 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutions of Moral Theology (Institutiones Theologiae Moralis)

Vol. I, On the Fourth Precept of t…, III. Obligations of Spouses, nn. 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679 & 680 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience, Proposed by Cardinal de Lugo, by Fr. Beniamino Elbel, by Fr. Ioannes Petrus Gury and by Other Authors, and Resolved (Casus conscientiae)

56. On the Obligations of Spouses, nn. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (27 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Marriage (Volume I), Chapter I: On Marriage as Contract, nn. 763, 764, 765, 766, 767 & 768 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

A Handbook of Moral Theology (Koch–Preuss)

Vol. V, Pt. II, Ch. II, Section 1: The Mutual Duties of the Married, nn. ¶1–¶37, ¶39, ¶40, ¶41, ¶42, ¶43, ¶44, ¶45, ¶46, ¶47 & ¶49–¶63 (61 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis: Principles — Responses — Counsels

Vol. II, Bk. II, Tr. III, Chapter IV: On Piety Between Spouses, nn. 305, 306 & 307 (3 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Tomus IV: On Chastity and …, Tr. III, Chapter V: Other Duties of Spouses, nn. ¶1, 78, 79, 80, 81 & 82 (6 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. II, Tr. XI, Sect. II, Q. II, Observance, and Obedience,…, Ch. II, Parents, Etc, Article III. On the Obligations of Spouses, nn. ¶67, 591, 592, 593 & 594 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Pastoral Questions

Ch. I, Question I: Concerning Spouses, nn. ¶4139–¶4222 (84 passages)

Ch. IX, Article I: Concerning the Rights and Duties of Spouses, nn. 257, ¶6872, 258, ¶6874, 259, ¶6876, ¶6877, 260, ¶6879, 261 & ¶6881 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. II, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Cardinal …, Fifth Part: On the Virtues…, Section D: On Piety and Ob…, Ch. I, Question Four: On the Offices of Spouses, nn. 830, 831 & 832 (20 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Matrimony, Fourth Part: On the Obligations of Spouses, n. 936 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. III, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On Matrimony, Fourth Part: On the Obliga…, Question Three: On Mutual Love and Help, nn. 971, 972, 973 & 974 (36 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Fourth Precept of t…, Ch. III, Article I. On the Obligations of Spouses, n. 258 — I. Spouses are held: 1st, To mutual love. For since they are one flesh, they ought also to be one heart. Thus Ephes. v, 25: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church"; Tit. ii, 4: "(Wives) let them love… Read in context →

Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume I

Slater, Cases I, The Fourth Commandment, Case 4. Property Rights of Married People, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8 & ¶9 (9 passages — hover a number to read it)

Cases of Conscience for English-Speaking Countries, Volume II

Slater, Cases II, Matrimony, Case 36. Cohabitation of Married People, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11, ¶12 & ¶13 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Slater, Cases II, Matrimony, Case 38. A Husband in Difficulties, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9 & ¶10 (10 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent (The Roman Catechism)

Pt. II, The Sacrament of Matrimony, nn. ¶52, ¶53, ¶54, ¶55, ¶56, ¶57 & ¶58 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

You and Yours: Practical Talks on Home Life

Scott, You and Yours, IV: Husband, nn. ¶160–¶210 (51 passages)

Scott, You and Yours, V: Wife, nn. ¶211–¶267 (57 passages)

What Is Marriage? A Catechism Arranged According to the Encyclical “Casti Connubii” of Pope Pius XI

Vermeersch, What Is Marriage?, Part One: The Blessings of…, The Second Blessing: Conjugal Fidelity, nn. 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 & 61 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Institutiones Morales Alphonsianae

Vol. I, Pt. II, Sect. II, Tr. IV, CHAPTER III: On the Mutual Duties of Spouses, nn. ¶1, ¶703, ¶704, ¶2 & ¶3 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. VIII, Ch. VII, Article II: On The Cohabitation Of Spouses, n. ¶1 — Spouses, on account of the undivided manner of life by which they are bound to each other in turn, and on account of the mutual help which one ought to furnish to the other, are held to cohabit together, unless a legitim… Read in context →

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. VIII, Ch. VII, Art. II, § 1. On The Obligation Of Cohabiting, nn. ¶2120 & ¶2121 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. II, Part Third: On the Sacrame…, Tr. VIII, Ch. VII, Art. II, § 2. On The Legitimate Separation Of Spouses, nn. ¶2122, ¶2123, ¶2124, ¶2125, ¶1, ¶2 & ¶2126 (7 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Vol. I, TREATISE ON THE PRECEPTS O…, CHAPTER III: ON THE OBLIGATIONS OF SPOUSES, nn. ¶441, ¶442, ¶443, ¶444 & ¶445 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

The Catechism Explained: An Exhaustive Exposition of the Christian Religion

Pt. III, II. THE SACRAMENTS, 7. MATRIMONY, The Duties of the Married, nn. ¶1, ¶2, ¶3, ¶4, ¶5, ¶6, ¶7, ¶8, ¶9, ¶10, ¶11, ¶12 & ¶13 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. I, Treatise On the Precepts o…, On the Fourth Precept of t…, Chapter III. On the Obligations of Spouses, nn. 378, 379, 380 & 381 (18 passages — hover a number to read it)

Vol. I, Treatise on Justice and Ri…, First Part. On the Nature …, Ch. II, Art. I, § II, Point II. On the Dominion of Wives, nn. 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556 & 557 (35 passages — hover a number to read it)

On Chastity and on the Contrary Vices: A Doctrinal and Moral Treatise

Ch. I, Appendix. On the Consequent Duty of Cohabiting, nn. 256, ¶1384, ¶1385, ¶1386, ¶1387, ¶1388, ¶1389, ¶1390, ¶1391, ¶1392, ¶1393, ¶1394 & ¶1395 (13 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Duties to Parents and Superiors (Fourth Commandment) — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology · Coppens, Moral Philosophy · Rickaby, Four-Square · Slater, Religion & Human Interests — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)