hus
raised is certain from passages in the New Testament and from the
constant teaching of the Church ever since the time of the apostles. Our
Lord did not merely add grace to the contract, but He made the very
contract a Sacrament, so that Christians cannot make this contract
without receiving the Sacrament.

Q. 1009. What is the outward sign in the Sacrament of Matrimony, and in
what does the whole essence of the marriage contract consist?
A. The outward sign in the Sacrament of matrimony is the mutual consent
of the persons, expressed by words or signs in accordance with the laws
of the Church. The whole essence of the marriage contract consists in
the surrender by the persons of their bodies to each other and in
declaring by word or sign that they make this surrender and take each
other for husband and wife now and for life.

Q. 1010. What are the chief ends of the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A. The chief ends of the Sacrament of matrimony are: (1) To enable the
husband and wife to aid each other in securing the salvation of their
souls; (2) To propagate or keep up the existence of the human race by
bringing children into the world to serve God; (3) To prevent sins
against the holy virtue of purity by faithfully obeying the laws of the
marriage state.

Q. 1011. {283} Can a Christian man and woman be united in lawful
marriage in any other way than by the Sacrament of Matrimony?
A. A Christian man and woman cannot be united in lawful marriage in any
other way than by the Sacrament of Matrimony, because Christ raised
marriage to the dignity of a sacrament.

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.