MATRIMONY 209 



ence teaches, is rarely compatible with chastity. Parents 

 have a duty in this regard which they must not neglect. 

 They should keep a watchful eye on their children 

 even after they are "engaged." The young people them- 

 selves should remember that undue liberties taken before 

 marriage, besides being sinful and highly displeasing to 

 God, are apt to undermine that mutual respect which is so 

 necessary an element of happiness in married life, espe- 

 cially after sensuality has abated. 



As marriage is valid only when contracted in con- 

 formity with the rules of the Church, nupturients should 

 scrupulously obey the precepts of Canon Law. Above all 

 they should not attempt to get married if there is a 

 diriment impediment between them. To do so would be 

 a mortal sin and the marriage itself invalid. If two 

 persons have married without being aware of the existence 

 of a diriment impediment, they must stop conjugal inter- 

 course as soon as they learn of the fact and have the 

 marriage bond "healed," or else part forever. 



To neglect to ask for a dispensation where there is a 

 forbidding impediment, is also mortally sinful. Nobody 

 is obliged to reveal the existence of a marital impedi- 

 ment if the revelation involves injury to his own good 

 name or that of another, 20 and those who wish to get 

 married should be instructed that dispensations for secret 

 impediments need not be requested through their respec- 

 tive pastors, but may be obtained through any confessor. 21 



Holy Scripture nowhere says that it is necessary to 

 have an ecclesiastical ceremony in connection with mar- 



20 Cfr. St. Alphonsus, Theol. essentials in an appendix (pp. 215 

 Mor., 1. VI, n. 995. sqq.) in the preparation of which 



21 Dr. Koch relegates the entire we have had the valued assistance 

 subject of marriage impediments to of two eminent canonists and a pro- 

 Canon Law, to which it properly be- fessor of moral theology. 



longs. For utility's sake we add the 



