Catena Fidei

Augustine of Hippo, On the Good of Marriage. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 3 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.

Passages · 35

On the Good of Marriage Chapter 1 — 1. Forasmuch as each man is a part of the human race, and human nature is something social, and hath for a great and natural good, the power also of friendship; on this account God willed to create all men out of…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 2 — 2. Nor is it now necessary that we enquire, and put forth a definite opinion on that question, whence could exist the progeny of the first men, whom God had blessed, saying, “Increase, and be ye multiplied, and fill…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 3 — 3. This we now say, that, according to this condition of being born and dying, which we know, and in which we have been created, the marriage of male and female is some good; the compact whereof divine Scripture so…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 4 — 4. There is this further, that in that very debt which married persons pay one to another, even if they demand it with somewhat too great intemperance and incontinence, yet they owe faith alike one to another. Unto…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 5 — 5. Also the question is wont to be asked, when a male and female, neither the one the husband, nor the other the wife, of any other, come together, not for the begetting of children, but, by reason of incontinence,…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 6 — 6. Further, in the very case of the more immoderate requirement of the due of the flesh, which the Apostle enjoins not on them by way of command, but allows to them by way of leave, that they have intercourse also…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 7 — 7. But I marvel, if, as it is allowed to put away a wife who is an adulteress, so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says,…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 8 — 8. “Honorable,” therefore, “is marriage in all, and the bed undefiled.” And this we do not so call a good, as that it is a good in comparison of fornication: otherwise there will be two evils, of which the second is…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 9 — 9. Truly we must consider, that God gives us some goods, which are to be sought for their own sake, such as wisdom, health, friendship: but others, which are necessary for the sake of somewhat, such as learning,…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 10 — 10. But I am aware of some that murmur: What, say they, if all men should abstain from all sexual intercourse, whence will the human race exist? Would that all would this, only in “charity out of a pure heart, and…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 11 — 11. And yet not to these themselves is marriage a sin; which, if it were chosen in comparison of fornication, would be a less sin than fornication, and yet would be a sin. But now what shall we say against the most…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 12 — 12. For, whereas that natural use, when it pass beyond the compact of marriage, that is, beyond the necessity of begetting, is pardonable in the case of a wife, damnable in the case of an harlot; that which is…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 13 — 13. What therefore he says, “She, that is unmarried, thinketh of the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit;” we are not to take in such sense, as to think that a chaste Christian wife is…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 14 — 14. And not without just cause a doubt is raised, whether he said this of all married women, or of such as so many are, as that nearly all may be thought so to be. For neither doth that, which he saith of unmarried…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 15 — 15. For what Christian men of our time being free from the marriage bond, having power to contain from all sexual intercourse, seeing it to be now “a time,” as it is written, “not of embracing, but of abstaining from…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 16 — 16. Therefore if haply, (which whether it can take place, I know not; and rather think it cannot take place; but yet, if haply), having taken unto himself a concubine for a time, a man shall have sought sons only…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 17 — 17. That marriage can take place of persons first ill joined, an honest decree following after, is manifest. But a marriage once for all entered upon in the City of our God, where, even from the first union of the…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 18 — 18. For what food is unto the conservation of the man, this sexual intercourse is unto the conservation of the race: and both are not without carnal delight: which yet being modified, and by restraint of temperance…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 19 — 19. Therefore as many women as there are now, unto whom it is said, “if they contain not, let them be married,” are not to be compared to the holy women then, even when they married. Marriage itself indeed in all…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 20 — 20. And on this account, not, so as it was allowed one man to have even several wives, was it allowed one female to have several husbands, not even for the sake of a family, in case it should happen that the woman…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 21 — 21. But since out of many souls there shall be hereafter one City of such as have one soul and one heart towards God; which perfection of our unity shall be hereafter, after this sojourn in a strange land, wherein…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 22 — 22. If, therefore, even they who are united in marriage only for the purpose of begetting, for which purpose marriage was instituted, are not compared with the Fathers, seeking their very sons in a way far other than…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 23 — 23. Nor, in that the Law orders a man to be purified even after intercourse with a wife, doth it show it to be sin: unless it be that which is allowed by way of pardon, which also, being in excess, hinders prayers.…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 24 — 24. Marriage, I say, is a good, and may be, by sound reason, defended against all calumnies. But with the marriage of the holy fathers, I inquire not what marriage, but what continence, is on a level: or rather not…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 25 — 25. Forsooth continence is a virtue, not of the body, but of the soul. But the virtues of the soul are sometimes shown in work, sometimes lie hid in habit, as the virtue of martyrdom shone forth and appeared by…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 26 — 26. But, in order that it may be more clearly understood, how there may be virtue in habit, although it be not in work, I speak of an example, about which no Catholic Christian can doubt. For that our Lord Jesus…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 27 — 27. Therefore at that time, when the Law also, following upon the days of the Patriarchs, pronounced accursed, whoso raised not up seed in Israel, even he, who could, put it not forth, but yet possessed it. But from…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 28 — 28. Therefore, if we compare the things themselves, we may no way doubt that the chastity of continence is better than marriage chastity, whilst yet both are good: but when we compare the persons, he is better, who…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 29 — 29. And there is this further, that men are not rightly compared with men in regard of some one good. For it may come to pass, that one hath not what another hath, but hath another thing, which must be esteemed of…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 30 — 30. The right question plainly is, not whether a virgin every way disobedient is to be compared to an obedient married woman, but a less obedient to a more obedient: forasmuch as that also of marriage is chastity,…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 31 — 31. From this obedience that Father, who was not without a wife, was prepared to be without an only son, and that slain by himself. For I shall not without due cause call him an only son, concerning whom he heard the…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 32 — 32. Therefore the good of marriage throughout all nations and all men stands in the occasion of begetting, and faith of chastity: but, so far as pertains unto the People of God, also in the sanctity of the Sacrament,…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 33 — 33. And, the case being thus, enough and more than enough answer has been made to the heretics, whether they be Manichees, or whosoever other that bring false charges against the Fathers of the Old Testament, on the…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 34 — 34. But those of ours who have wives we advise, with all our power, that they dare not to judge of those holy fathers after their own weakness, comparing, as the Apostle says, themselves with themselves; and…vatican.va
On the Good of Marriage Chapter 35 — 35. Boys also and virgins dedicating unto God actual chastity we do before all things admonish, that they be aware that they must guard their life meanwhile upon earth with so great humility, by how much the more…vatican.va

Scripture cited · 76 verses

Passages · 35

Scripture cited · 76 verses

Around this entry