Page:Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent Buckley.djvu/218

186 CHAPTER IX.

That Temporal Lords, or Magistrates, shall not attempt anything contrary to the Liberty of Marriage.

Earthly affections and lusts do for the most part so blind the eyes of the mind of temporal lords and magistrates, as that, by threats and pains, they compel both men and women, living under their jurisdiction, especially such as are rich, or have expectations of a great inheritance, unwillingly to contract marriage with those whom the said lords or magistrates may prescribe unto them. Wherefore, seeing it is a thing especially wicked to violate the liberty of matrimony, and that wrongs proceed from those from whom right is expected, the holy synod enjoins on all, of what degree, dignity, and condition soever they may be, under pain of anathema to be incurred by the very act, that they do not in any way constrain, directly or indirectly, those subject to them, or any others soever, so as to hinder them from freely contracting marriage.

CHAPTER X.

The Solemnities of Marriage are prohibited at certain times.

The holy synod commands, that the ancient prohibitions of solemn nuptials, from the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ until the day of the Epiphany, and from Ash-Wednesday until the octave of Easter inclusively, be carefully observed by all; but at other times it allows marriages to be solemnly celebrated; concerning which the bishops shall take care, that they be conducted with becoming modesty and propriety. For marriage is a holy thing, and is to be treated in a holy manner.  

The sacred and holy synod, pursuing the subject of Reformation, decrees that the things following be ordained in the present session.