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Text Box: The Orthodox - Basilian Catechism Q. 1012. Were, then, all marriages before the coming of Christ unlawful and invalid? A. All marriages before the coming of Christ were not unlawful and invalid. They were both lawful and valid when the persons contracting them followed the dictates of their conscience and the laws of God as they knew them; but such marriages were only contracts. Through their evil inclinations many forgot or neglected the true character of marriage till Our Lord restored it to its former unity and purity. Q. 1013. What do we mean by impediments to marriage? A. By impediments to marriage we mean certain restrictions, imposed by the law of God or of the Church, that render the marriage invalid or unlawful when they are violated in entering into it. These restrictions regard age, health, relationship, intention, religion and other matters affecting the good of the Sacrament. Q. 1014. Can the Church dispense from or remove these impediments to marriage? A. The Church can dispense from or remove the impediments to marriage that arise from its own laws; but it cannot dispense from impediments that arise from the laws of God and nature. Every lawmaker can change or excuse from the laws made by himself or his equals, but he cannot, of his own authority, change or excuse from laws made by a higher power. Q. 1015. What is required that the Church may grant, when it is able, dispensations from the impediments to marriage or from other laws? A. That the Church may grant dispensations from the impediments to marriage or from other laws, there must be a good and urgent reason for granting such dispensations. The Church does not grant dispensations without cause and merely to satisfy the

Text Box: wishes of those who ask for them. Q. 1016. Why does the Church sometimes require the persons to whom dispensations are granted to pay a tax or fee for the privilege? A. The Church sometimes requires the persons to whom dispensations are granted to pay a tax or fee for the privilege: 1. That persons on account of this tax be restrained from asking for dispensations and may comply with the general laws; 2. That the Church may not have to bear the expense of supporting an office for granting privileges to a few. Q. 1017. What should persons who are about to get married do? A. Persons who are about to get married should give their pastor timely notice of their intention, make known to him privately whatever they suspect might be an impediment to the marriage, and make sure of all arrangements before inviting their friends. Q. 1018. What timely notice of marriage should be given to the priest, and why? A. At least three weeks notice of marriage should be given to the priest, because, according to the laws of the Church, the names of the persons about to get married must be announced and their intended marriage published at the principal Divine Liturgy (Mass) in their parish for three successive Sundays. Q. 1019. Why are the banns of matrimony published in the Church? A. The banns of matrimony are published in the Church that any person who might know of any impediment to the marriage may have an opportunity to declare it privately to the priest before the marriage takes place and thus prevent an invalid or unlawful marriage. Persons who know of such impediments and fail to declare them in due time are guilty of sin Q. 1020. What things in particular should persons arranging for their marriage make known to the priest? A. Persons arranging for their marriage

Text Box: should make known to the priest whether both are Christians and Orthodox Catholics; whether either has been solemnly engaged or betrhothed to another person; whether they have ever made any vow to God with regard to chastity or the like; whether they are related and in what degree; whether either was ever married to any member of the other's family and whether either was ever godparent in baptism for the other. Q. 1021. What else must they make known? A. They must also make known whether either was married before and what proof can be given of the death of the former husband or wife or the circumstances under which any prior marriage began and ended; whether they really intend to get married, and do so of their own will; whether they are of lawful age; whether they are sound in body or suffering from any deformity that might prevent their marriage, and lastly, whether they live in the parish in which they ask to be married, and if so, how long they have lived in it. Q. 1022. What is particularly necessary that persons may do their duty in the marriage state? A. That persons may do their duty in the marriage state, it is particularly necessary that they should be well instructed, before entering it, in the truths and duties of their religion for how will they teach their children these things if they are ignorant of them themselves? Q. 1023. Can the bond of Christian marriage be dissolved by any human power? A. The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power. Q. 1024. Does not a divorce granted by courts of justice break the bond of marriage? A. Divorce granted by courts of justice or by any human power does not break the bond of marriage, and one who

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