Show THE MATRIMONIAL SACRAMENT Some teachings of religion seem to many to be harsh because so different differ-ent from and so much opposed to what they had been in the practice prac-tice of witnessing amid their surrounding sur-rounding acquaintances and so contrary con-trary to their very feelings and prejudices preju-dices But these teachings arc not on that account Ipus true To Illustrate this principle I take Christian marriage mar-riage which Is always an Important and Interesting subject It is important import-ant for upon It depends the family which Is the cornerstone of society I Is 1 Interesting because both church and State claim jurisdiction over It The former appeals to the divine ordinance or-dinance and what natural Justice Itself dictates the latter only to popular fee lings The Catholic teaching ever the same is l that marriage is 1 0 sacrament 2 it is indissoluble I la a sacrament hence the church claims Jurisdiction and teaches that all entering the marriage state must have the I ceremony performed by her own ministers since only those who have consecrated themselves to God have aright a-right to administer any of the sacraments sacra-ments Thut it Is n sacrament the church ban always taught ind Is so termed in the Bible St Paul after telling husbands how they should love their wives concludes In these words This is a great sacrament but I speak in Christ and In the Church EphcslaufJ VM 25 32 l the early writers the liturgies of the Western and Oriental churches including all those who for more than MOO year have been separated from the Catholic church leach l as she does that marriage Isa sacrament and being l be-ing a sacrament comes within the jurisdiction of the church and therefore there-fore marriage to be licit and In some cases valid between Catholics must bo performed by o Catholic priest Marrlage Indissoluble The necond part Is I by far the moat Important I 1 the part that modern society has entirely en-tirely lost sight of and because > society so-ciety line grown indifferent on thIs point It isthat there are so many unhappy un-happy marriages so much breaking up of house and home so many unnatural separations as take place dally between children and parents and the preva Icncy of that most terrible of all crimes namely foeticldc The CUtholIc church maintains that marriage is Indissoluble 1 o husband hus-band and wife once validly married mar-ried can never separate to marry again She does not recognize divorce di-vorce with the privilege of remarrying re-marrying She tells her children the marriage bond can lever be broken till tho dcMth of either occurs and if l Catholic should after being once val idly married and legally divorced marry again heIs then and there cut on from the church and not permitted to approach the sacramcntn There Is no exception Is she right or Is she wrong She Is right and reason ilgelf sanctions her teaching In the first plnce if the marriage contract con-tract was not Indissoluble It would bo unrenKonablc and contrary to the wordu uttered by the contracting par tics Until 1 death do us pnrt According Ac-cording to the expressed promise of each nothing but death can break the contract Should either parly have n limit I an to time In their minds and not moan what they express when they fay until death do UH part the contract con-tract would hi unjust and unreasonable unreason-able I would bo unjust inasmuch as any mental reservation would be contrary to the form of the contract also becauueall contraols require that both parties freely forming partner hip should In case of dissolution come out equal losers and eqvwl gainers Jun Lice demands thin and the law suslnlnB It In the dissolution of 1 marriage contract they cannot possibly come out equal locera for while the woman always al-ways suffers In the eyes of thu public jccnuae she has lost her virginity the man practically remains as he was before be-fore his marriage The dissolution would then be unjust Inasmuch us it works njialnnt the weaker sex It opens the way to sin and destroys hat mutual love which is the basis of the marrlago contract 1 opens tiuim way to sin because If either party cnows that by being guilty of Bin and hat thulr affections have been won h y the charms of Another they will place he cause or lie guilty of the sin In order that they may be able to oh aln a separation The law permitting reparation for certain causes and tho privilege of remarrying places a temptation temp-tation before the I married couple and for the crime committed there lu a m reward re-ward Many a man knovvlnrf that he could not marry until he is legally divorced di-vorced from his wife Is guilty of tIe crime proscribed by law ns sufficient to obtain 1 legal separation which being be-ing granted leaves her free to marry which toils man to do that which hI 1 evil lust then you obtain a divorce and arc free to contract a new mar lagc For other crimes the law 1 lands the I culprit in I the penitentiary but for this crime whatever it may be It Is Jiffcrcnt In every State the culprit receives re-ceives a premium namely the privilege privi-lege o marrying again Is not this rewarding crime and does not reason and natural Justice cry out against It D KI JULY |