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ll are three states of life, namely, the Priesthood, the Religious state, and the Married state, are, as I have frequently remarked, ordained by God; but every state is not for every one, and it is not a matter of indifference in the sight of God which state is chosen.

The reason why I speak here of the married state in the first place, is simply because a very large majority of young men are called to this state, and also because it is usually the first which is considered. We now proceed to ask the first decisive question: are you called to the married state? Ought you to marry?

2. The answer to the question, "Ought you to marry?" depends upon another question: "Do you think yourself capable of fulfilling the duties of the married state?" In order to answer this question, you must learn what these duties really are, and I will now proceed briefly to set them before you.

One of the chief among these duties requires that husband and wife should live together in concord, love, and conjugal fidelity until death. They must remain together, since marriage is indissoluble. Only when it pleases Almighty God to sever the bond