CENT. V.
INNOCENT I. L.C. Speaking of a man who had married another woman, while his wife was in captivity, he says:
Knowing this, we decreed, agreeably to Catholic belief, that that marriage was valid, which, by the divine grace, was first established; and that the second, the first wife being living, and not repudiated by a divorce, could not be legitimate.” Ep. ix. ad Probum. Conc. Gen. T. ii. p. 1263.“ The blessing which the Priest gives in marriage-must be considered as conformable to the law anciently appointed by God.” Ep. ii. ad Victricium. Ibid. p. 1251.
St. AUGUSTIN, L. C. In various parts of his works he speaks of marriage as a Sacrament.—“ In the marriages of our women, the sanctity of the Sacrament is of the greatest weight.” De Bono conjug. c. xviii. T. vi. p. 332.—“ In all nations, the great good of marriage consists in the propagation of children, and the fidelity of the parties: but among Christians, there is, besides, the holiness of the Sacrament.” Ibid. c. xxiv. p. 337.-"In the City of God, in his holy mountain, that is, in the Church, not the bond only, but the Sacrament of marriage, commands our respect.” De fide et oper. c. vii. Ibid. p. 170.-He exhorts the man to be continent before marriage, “ because if he be not, he will not deserve to receive the benediction with his wife.” Serm. cclxxxix. T. v. p. 482.
St. Leo, L. C. “As then the nuptial union has, from the beginning, been so appointed, that, besides the conjunction of sexes, there should also be the Sacrament of Christ
