St. The encyclical letter Casti Connubii of Pope Pius XI, published more than ninety years ago, has faded from view and virtually from memory. Arcanum divinae sapientiae, 10 Febr. 7. These offer all the indulgence of matrimony and its rights without, however, the indissoluble bond, and without offspring, unless later the parties alter their cohabitation into a matrimony in the full sense of the law. Wherefore, those who have the care of the State and of the public good cannot neglect the needs of married people and their families, without bringing great harm upon the State and on the common welfare. 7, n. 12. With divorce rates increasing and the popularity of alternative lifestyles, Casti Connubii warned that the new attitudes would jeopardize the benefits and purposes of marriage. Armed with these principles, some men go so far as to concoct new species of unions, suited, as they say, to the present temper of men and the times, which various new forms of matrimony they presume to label "temporary," "experimental," and "companionate." St. "[39], 39. With reason, therefore, does the Sacred Council of Trent solemnly declare: "Christ Our Lord very clearly taught that in this bond two persons only are to be united and joined together when He said: 'Therefore they are no longer two, but one flesh'. Christ the Lord, the Institutor and "Perfecter" of the holy sacraments,[38] by raising the matrimony of His faithful to the dignity of a true sacrament of the New Law, made it a sign and source of that peculiar internal grace by which "it perfects natural love, it confirms an indissoluble union, and sanctifies both man and wife. For Christ Himself made the Church the teacher of truth in those things also which concern the right regulation of moral conduct, even though some knowledge of the same is not beyond human reason. Bellarmin., De controversiis, tom. But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Hence this sacrament not only increases sanctifying grace, the permanent principle of the supernatural life, in those who, as the expression is, place no obstacle (obex) in its way, but also adds particular gifts, dispositions, seeds of grace, by elevating and perfecting the natural powers. 24. 29. Therefore although before Christ the sublimeness and the severity of the primeval law was so tempered that Moses permitted to the chosen people of God on account of the hardness of their hearts that a bill of divorce might be given in certain circumstances, nevertheless, Christ, by virtue of His supreme legislative power, recalled this concession of greater liberty and restored the primeval law in its integrity by those words which must never be forgotten, "What God hath joined together let no man put asunder." This document remains an important part of the Catholic Church . "No one who is guiltless may be punished by a human tribunal either by flogging to death, or mutilation, or by beating."[54]. Catholic teaching on contraception. However, not even this power can ever affect for any cause whatsoever a Christian marriage which is valid and has been consummated, for as it is plain that here the marriage contract has its full completion, so, by the will of God, there is also the greatest firmness and indissolubility which may not be destroyed by any human authority. 65. But considering the benefits of the Sacrament, besides the firmness and indissolubility, there are also much higher emoluments as the word "sacrament" itself very aptly indicates; for to Christians this is not a meaningless and empty name. Series: Catholic Truth Society pamphlet ; no. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sobriety."[85]. For experience has taught that unassailable stability in matrimony is a fruitful source of virtuous life and of habits of integrity. Pope Pius XI issues the Encyclical Casti Nevertheless, since it is a law of divine Providence in the supernatural order that men do not reap the full fruit of the Sacraments which they receive after acquiring the use of reason unless they cooperate with grace, the grace of matrimony will remain for the most part an unused talent hidden in the field unless the parties exercise these supernatural powers and cultivate and develop the seeds of grace they have received. God does not ask the impossible, but by His commands, instructs you to do what you are able, to pray for what you are not able that He may help you. Some confidently assert that they have found no evidence of the existence of matrimony in nature or in her laws, but regard it merely as the means of producing life and of gratifying in one way or another a vehement impulse; on the other hand, others recognize that certain beginnings or, as it were, seeds of true wedlock are found in the nature of man since, unless men were bound together by some form of permanent tie, the dignity of husband and wife or the natural end of propagating and rearing the offspring would not receive satisfactory provision. Vincent McNabb, O.P. 19. The doctrine of the Church on marriage was affirmed as definitive and binding by Pope Pius XI in his encyclical Casti Connubii of December 31, 1930. 50. Arcanum divinae sapientiae 10 Febr. 41. The encyclical also affirms the church's opposition to adultery and divorce, and its support of wives as homemakers. Roman Penitentiary, asked about periodic abstinence to avoid For no one can fail to see that children are incapable of providing wholly for themselves, even in matters pertaining to their natural life, and much less in those pertaining to the supernatural, but require for many years to be helped, instructed, and educated by others. The encyclical also stresses the indissolubility and stability of marriage. Casti connubii does repeat several times that the conjugal act is intrinsically tied with procreation: any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin. Modestinus, in Dig. 1 reference. Cardinal Francis Bourne, Archbishop of "[12] As St. Augustine admirably deduces from the words of the holy Apostle Saint Paul to Timothy[13] when he says: "The Apostle himself is therefore a witness that marriage is for the sake of generation: 'I wish,' he says, 'young girls to marry.' Princess Giovanna of Italy (Catholic). We most humbly pour forth Our earnest prayer at the Throne of His Grace, that God, the Author of all graces, the inspirer of all good desires and deeds,[101] may bring this about, and deign to give it bountifully according to the greatness of His liberality and omnipotence, and as a token of the abundant blessing of the same Omnipotent God, We most lovingly grant to you, Venerable Brethren, and to the clergy and people committed to your watchful care, the Apostolic Benediction. That rigid attitude which condemns all sensual affections and actions with a third party they imagine to be a narrowing of mind and heart, something obsolete, or an abject form of jealousy, and as a result they look upon whatever penal laws are passed by the State for the preserving of conjugal faith as void or to be abolished. topic/Casti-Connubii. Casti Connubii was the first time the Catholic Church clearly stated its position on eugenics, and came out during a period of great discussion for eugenic measures and legislation across the . 32. Thus far, Venerable Brethren, We have admired with due reverence what the all wise Creator and Redeemer of the human race has ordained with regard to human marriage; at the same time we have expressed Our grief that such a pious ordinance of the divine Goodness should today, and on every side, be frustrated and trampled upon by the passions, errors and vices of men. Casti Connubii regards all Many centuries ago indeed, the old Roman law had proclaimed: "Marriages are the union of male and female, a sharing of life and the communication of divine and human rights. This does not deny or take away the liberty which fully belongs to the woman both in view of her dignity as a human person, and in view of her most noble office as wife and mother and companion; nor does it bid her obey her husband's every request if not in harmony with right reason or with the dignity due to wife; For if the man is the head, the woman is the heart, and as he occupies the chief place in ruling, so she may and ought to claim for herself the chief place in love. 105. Encycl. The pope declares that marriage is a divine institution and uniquely suited to the raising children. Vatican City, Italy December 31, 1930. I, cap. We have decided therefore to speak to you, Venerable Brethren, and through you to the whole Church of Christ and indeed to the whole human race, on the nature and dignity of Christian marriage, on the advantages and benefits which accrue from it to the family and to human society itself, on the errors contrary to this most important point of the Gospel teaching, on the vices opposed to conjugal union, and lastly on the principal remedies to be applied. In order that they may make this firm resolution, keep it and put it into practice, an oft-repeated consideration of their state of life, and a diligent reflection on the sacrament they have received, will be of great assistance to them. CASTI CONNUBII ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XI ON CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE TO THE VENERABLE BRETHREN, PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS, AND OTHER LOCAL ORDINARIES ENJOYING PEACE AND COMMUNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE. Casti Connubii, or On Christian Marriage is the essential papal encyclical on marriage, the family and society. Gen., I, 27-28; II, 22-23; Matth., XIX, 3 sqq. But it forbids that exaggerated liberty which cares not for the good of the family; it forbids that in this body which is the family, the heart be separated from the head to the great detriment of the whole body and the proximate danger of ruin. - a house that in the words of Christ would forthwith be shaken and collapse, as soon as it was exposed to the waves of adversity "and the winds blew and they beat upon that house. Copyright Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Pope Pius XIs account of the true purpose of Christian marriage places significant weight on the proper use of sexuality in marriage, in keeping with the And if this stability seems to be open to exception, however rare the exception may be, as in the case of certain natural marriages between unbelievers, or amongst Christians in the case of those marriages which though valid have not been consummated, that exception does not depend on the will of men nor on that of any merely human power, but on divine law, of which the only guardian and interpreter is the Church of Christ. In December of that same year, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical " Casti Connubii " (Christian Marriage) which maintained the teaching that artificial contraception was "shameful and intrinsically vicious". 40. contraceptives, with increasing approval. Reitera a santidade do matrimnio e probe aos catlicos o uso de qualquer forma artificial de controle de natalidade e reafirma a proibio do aborto. August., De nupt. 38. [15] From which it is easily seen how great a gift of divine goodness and how remarkable a fruit of marriage are children born by the omnipotent power of God through the cooperation of those bound in wedlock.