Page:Completecatechis00deharich.djvu/322

 receive grace from God to discharge the duties of their state faithfully until death.

'''7. How is this Sacrament received? '''

The bridegroom and the bride declare before a duly-authorized Priest and two witnesses that they take each other for wife and husband, whereupon the Priest blesses their union.

'''8. What are the duties of married persons? '''

1. They should take the mutual love of Christ and His Church for their model and live with each other in peace and conjugal fidelity, until death separates them;

2. They should edify each other by leading a holy life;1

3. They should concur together in bringing up their children in the fear of God, and suffer no servants to be in their house who might endanger their innocence;

4. The husband should treat his wife with kindness, support and cherish her; the wife should obey her husband in all that is just and honorable, and conscientiously manage the domestic concerns.2

1'Marriage honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge' (Heb. xiii. 4). 2'As the Church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things'; i.e., that are just and honorable. 'Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it. . . . For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the Church' (Ephes. v. 24-29).

'''9. What should married people consider when they are tempted to break their conjugal fidelity? '''

1. That by adultery they break the solemn contract they have made in the presence of God and of the Church;

2. That they break the most sacred bond by which, according to God's disposal, human society is united and kept together;

3. That they disturb domestic peace, hinder the good