‘We Record What Is to All Known’

Posted on | March 26, 2013 | 36 Comments

The Fall of Man (or, Adam and Eve), Hendrick Goltzius, 1616 (detail)

“The true origin of marriage, venerable brothers, is well known to all. Though revilers of the Christian faith refuse to acknowledge the never-interrupted doctrine of the Church on this subject, and have long striven to destroy the testimony of all nations and of all times, they have nevertheless failed not only to quench the powerful light of truth, but even to lessen it. We record what is to all known, and cannot be doubted by any, that God, on the sixth day of creation, having made man from the slime of the earth, and having breathed into his face the breath of life, gave him a companion, whom He miraculously took from the side of Adam when he was locked in sleep. God thus, in His most far-reaching foresight, decreed that this husband and wife should be the natural beginning of the human race, from whom it might be propagated and preserved by an unfailing fruitfulness throughout all futurity of time. And this union of man and woman, that it might answer more fittingly to the infinite wise counsels of God, even from the beginning manifested chiefly two most excellent properties — deeply sealed, as it were, and signed upon it — namely, unity and perpetuity. From the Gospel we see clearly that this doctrine was declared and openly confirmed by the divine authority of Jesus Christ. He bore witness to the Jews and to His Apostles that marriage, from its institution, should exist between two only, that is, between one man and one woman; that of two they are made, so to say, one flesh; and that the marriage bond is by the will of God so closely and strongly made fast that no man may dissolve it or render it asunder. ‘For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What, therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.'”
— Pope Leo XIII, “On Christian Marriage,” 1880

Category: Family, Marriage, Religion

Comments

36 Responses to “‘We Record What Is to All Known’”

Andrew Patrick
March 26th, 2013 @ 9:58 am

This blog is getting mighty friendly towards popery.
robertstacymccain
March 26th, 2013 @ 10:28 am

Don’t start that “road to Rome” nonsense with me (although all my Catholic friends do). I am proudly Protestant, and shall remain so.
The problem, really, is that nowadays “Catholic” has been twisted to include such apostate heretics as Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, the Kennedys and the Cuomos. Y’all tend your own flock, and I’ll mind mine.
Becca Lower
March 26th, 2013 @ 10:47 am

I’m probably not the only one who was pleasantly-surprised to find some mighty familiar language showing’ up towards the end of that.
Bob Belvedere
March 26th, 2013 @ 11:05 am

…let it be repeated as an immutable and inviolable
fundamental doctrine that matrimony was not instituted or restored by man but by God; not by man were the laws made to strengthen and confirm and elevate it but by God, the Author of nature, and by Christ Our Lord by Whom nature was redeemed, and hence these laws cannot be subject to any human decrees or to any contrary pact even of the spouses themselves….

—Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CASTI.HTM
t-dahlgren
March 26th, 2013 @ 11:13 am

It’s a fact we are stuck with, once Catholic, you stay Catholic. No matter how far you may stray from the Faith the door is always open for your potential return.

It is the way of the Lord, and more mundanely, it would be rather silly to call one’s self Catholic if you were not also catholic.

But by all means, keep looking to popes for examples of moral authority….

Big C, little c, it’s all good. 😉
Andrew Patrick
March 26th, 2013 @ 11:48 am

You speak truth. Would that the Holy Fathers were as ready to excommunicate the heretics as some of their medieval forbears.
t-dahlgren
March 26th, 2013 @ 11:52 am

Better that than potpourri, because that would be just weird.

IYKWIMAITYD
OldmanRick
March 26th, 2013 @ 12:05 pm

Back in those days, the Popes had armies and nations at their disposal to enforce their decisions on matters of faith. Today, not so much. Against tanks and fighter aircraft the Swiss guards are completely ineffective.
Supreme statements on marriage | Thoughts of a citizen
March 26th, 2013 @ 12:33 pm

[…] h/t theothermccain.com […]
Andrew Patrick
March 26th, 2013 @ 1:26 pm

The Swiss Guard was never more than a bodyguard, as the Papal States were never more than an appanage guaranteeing the Pope’s political independence. The only military force that really could have functioned as a papal army, the Knights Templar, was abandoned by the Pope at the behest of the French King. Warrior popes were few, far between, and indifferently successful.

At their political height, the Popes were slightly more powerful than the Sec-Gen of the UN. Now all their authority derives from another source, which is as it should be.
Zilla of the Resistance
March 26th, 2013 @ 1:45 pm

If you convert, then maybe our Popes won’t be selected at the same time that you have a big announcement anymore. It could have been a sign, ya know. 😉
Bob Belvedere
March 26th, 2013 @ 1:51 pm

Oooo…good point!
Poove And Marriage | The Camp Of The Saints
March 26th, 2013 @ 2:51 pm

[…] at TOM, Stacy McCain offers an appropriate quote from Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical On Christian Marriage — […]
rmnixondeceased
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:08 pm

Remember Stalin’s comments about the Pope. Which is still extant, the USSR or the Catholic Church? You have your answer.
OldmanRick
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:16 pm

I was kinda tongue and cheek about the Swiss guard. However, there have been warrior Popes from time to time. One example follows:

http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=papalstates
OldmanRick
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:28 pm

I must plead ignorance. I am fairly familiar with Pius XII(Roman Rite) and his trials and tribulations with Hitler and Mussolini. Even the bad. However, I believe Stalin would have dealt more with the Russian Orthodox Church than with Rome.
OldmanRick
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:35 pm

Actually, I must plead ignorance with respect to Stalin and the Russian Catholic Church(Russian Rite). I am somewhat familiar with Pius XII(Roman Rite) and his trials and tribulations with Mussolini and Hitler. Even the bad. However, I know little about Stalin and his statements regarding the Church.
K-Bob
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:37 pm

The Pocket Fisherman guy?
rmnixondeceased
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:38 pm

When informed that the Pope had given his support to the Allies in 1944 during World War II, Joseph Stalin is reported to have said sarcastically: “How many battalions does the Pope have?”
K-Bob
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:39 pm

Yeah, but is Po-Fran gonna lay down the smack on this, or not?
K-Bob
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:42 pm

And what’s up with the goat in that picture?
OldmanRick
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:43 pm

Yes, I have heard that. Thanks for reminding me. Kudos.
rmnixondeceased
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:45 pm

ALWAYS trust Zilla …
Evi L. Bloggerlady
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:45 pm

Well said, but “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Most people do not take paying for a marriage license from some county office as a “sacrament” (well no one but leftists). And we have 9 states that recognize same sex marriage. Do it consider it the same as traditional marriage? No I do not. Does it threaten traditional marriage? In my mind, no. So I would vote for it. But I respect those states and individuals who vote no for it too. And the Supreme Court should stay out of this and leave it to the states to resolve.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:47 pm

You know you are drawn to that old school Catholic dogma!
rmnixondeceased
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:48 pm

Yes, the inclusion of the language contained in the Rite of Christian Marriage is comforting, pertinent and ties everything up nicely.
rmnixondeceased
March 26th, 2013 @ 3:51 pm

Popeil?
1bulwetweft
March 26th, 2013 @ 4:33 pm

Looks like he has the best view.
K-Bob
March 26th, 2013 @ 4:45 pm

Oh, yeah. That guy.
RichFader
March 26th, 2013 @ 6:54 pm

I’d be fine with uncoupling civil and religious marriage if the other side really were willing to leave it at that. Well, I’d still think same-sex civil marriage was a morally bad and practically unwise idea, but at least that system would give the churches the opportunity to follow their conscience on blessing them or not, I’m not holding my breath that that’s ever going to be allowed to happen.
Beeblebrocs
March 26th, 2013 @ 9:20 pm

Hmm. Are you offended or concerned when Mitt Romney or John McCain call themselves conservatives? I’ll tell ya, it bothers me because I don’t want the meaning of “conservative” to be appropriated by non-conservatives. The word “conservative” means something specific but if you, EBL, think it does no damage to the institution of true conservatism for John McCain or John Boehner to be called conservative then feel free to be unthreatened.

As a true conservative myself, I generally believe that when a liberal wraps himself in the conservative mantle, that our side loses just a little more ground.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
March 27th, 2013 @ 12:02 am

I am not threatened by Mitt Romney or John McCain calling themselves conservative, I just think it is ludicrous and is devoid of any objective reality. But it is fostered by those lying whoremongers of the lamestream media who are happy as pie to promote Romney and McCain and “good” conservatives until they run against one of their candidates, where they then call them rabid extreme conservatives.

I am more offended and concerned by low knowledge voters and citizens who can’t be bothered with rational thought and discernment.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
March 27th, 2013 @ 12:27 am

Beeblebrocs, I should not be down range on this issue, here is your target: I thought Ann Coulter gave up Kris Kristiekreme for Lent!
Evi L. Bloggerlady
March 27th, 2013 @ 1:15 am

Better than Pompei too. That ended badly.
Andrew Patrick
March 27th, 2013 @ 8:37 am

That was a feverish read.
Doug E. Fresh
March 27th, 2013 @ 9:04 pm

Brush your gnarly teeth, dude!