The law of marriage in its bearing on morality

Abstract

Both Church and State have the highest reasons for endeavouring to regulate the laws and customs regarding marriage as it is so intimately connected with morality and property. In all Christian times those who had the moral welfare of the people at heart urged, and in a large measure succeeded, in having a due celebration of marriage; but its validity was under the old Canon Law held to depend on the consent of the parties without the intervention of Church or State. It was not until the Council of Trent that this old law was set aside, and the benediction of the priest was declared necessary to the sacramental element now first defined in it.