the existing impediment, and the priest also being deceived performed
the ceremony in the usual manner. If it ever happens, therefore, that
you hear of the Church permitting persons, already apparently married,
to separate and marry others, it is only when it discovers that their
first marriage was invalid, and by its action it does not dissolve the
bond of marriage, but simply declares that the marriage was null and
void from the beginning, as you now easily understand. Thus persons
might unwittingly marry with existing impediments that would render
their marriage invalid or illicit. Such things, however, happen very
rarely, for the priest would discover the impediments in questioning the
persons about to marry.

Protestants and persons outside the Catholic Church teach that the
marriage bond can at times be dissolved, but such doctrines bring great
evil upon society. When the father and mother separate and marry again,
the children of the first marriage are left to take care of themselves,
or receive only such care as the law gives them. They are left without
Christian instruction and the good influence of home. Then persons who
are divorced once may be divorced a second or third time, and thus all
society would be thrown into a state of confusion, and there would be
scarcely any such thing as a family to be found. It is bad enough at
present, on account of divorces granted by the laws and upheld by
Protestants; and only for the influence and good public opinion created
by the teaching and opposition of the Catholic Church, it would be much
worse. Again, if husbands and wives could separate for this or that
fault, they would not be careful in making their choice of the person
they wish to marry, nor would their motives be always holy and worthy of
the Sacrament.

285 Q. Which are the effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A. The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are: first, to sanctify the
love of husband and wife; second, to give them grace to bear with each
other's weaknesses; third, to enable them to bring up their children in
the fear and love of God.

The union and love existing between a husband and wife should be like
the union and love existing between Our Lord and His Church. The grace
of the Sacrament helps them to have such a love. "Weaknesses"--that is,
their faults, bad dispositions, etc. "Bring up their children." This is
their most important duty, and parents receive grace to perform it, and
woe