Choose a topic from Part 3 Suppl:
1. Impotence is physical inability to perform the marriagefunction. If this inability exists before marriage, and isincurable (that is, perpetual), it renders marriage impossible; itis a diriment impediment.
2. Inability to perform the marital act is diriment tomarriage (if it occur before the valid marriage and isincurable) even if it come from preternatural causes, such asdemons, and constitutes a kind of spell or bewitchment.
3. Insanity is an impediment to marriage, for madmencannot freely and knowingly make a valid contract. If it comesafter marriage, of course, insanity does not affect the marriagebond. If insanity is notconstant, so that the afflictedperson has intervals of sanity, he is capable of marrying at suchtimes; yet it is most unwise for him to do so.
4. Incest committed by a spouse is a reason for which theother spouse may refuse marriage rights; but it does not dissolve amarriage.
5. Defect of age is an impediment to marriage. Girls underfourteen and boys under sixteen are debarred by church law frommarrying. By the natural law, marriage is invalid for persons whohave not attained puberty.
"Before a man chooses his confessor, he ought to think well about it, and pray about it also; but when he has once chosen, he ought not to change, except for most urgent reasons, but put the utmost confidence in his director."
St Philip Neri
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"The greatest glory we can give to God is to do his will in everything."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"If, devout soul, it is your will to please God and live a life of serenity in this world, unite yourself always and in all things to the divine will. Reflect that all the sins of your past wicked life happened because you wandered from the path of God's will. For the future, embrace God's good pleasure and say to him in every happening: "Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight." "
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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