Publisher's Synopsis
This work begins with the dignity of the family and proceeds to the dignity of man and woman. This is followed by the dignity of the Christian child and then proceeds to discuss the holy sacrament of Marriage. This work is a must read fro anyone entering the holy state of Matrimony, as it details the rights and responsibilities of Christian parents. Consider this on the dignity of the Christian child: "A foreigner, who has come to the United States and wishes to enjoy the rights and privileges of an American citizen, has to appear in open court and declare his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States. If he then continues to reside, for five years, within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the grand llepublic, and conducts himself, during that time, as a man of good moral character, is attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same, he receives his naturalization papers as a citizen of the Union, after having declared on oath, in open court, that he will support the Constitution of the United States, and that he does absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, or state sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the government of the country to which he was formerly subject. "Christian parents! your children, too, have become, on similar conditions, citizens of the kingdom of God on earth and in heaven. There are two great kingdoms in this world-the kingdom of Jesus Christ and of Satan. The kingdom of Jesus Christ is the Roman Catholic Church. In his kingdom alone are found true peace and happiness, the forgiveness of sins, the means to obtain the grace of God and to lead a virtuous life. To remain a faithful citizen and subject of this kingdom, is to be forever a citizen of God's kingdom in heaven. The kingdom of Satan in this world is that corrupt body composed of three foul and abominable members: "The concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and of the pride of life." One day our dear Saviour permitted Satan "to tako him up into a high mountain, and to show him his kingdom of this world and the glory of it,"-that is, the riches, the honors, and the sinful pleasures of the flesh; and Satan said to him: "All this I will give thee, if, falling down, thou wilt adore me." What Satan here promised to our Saviour, he promises to every one who wishes to follow him. To remain a faithful subject of Satan's kingdom, is to be forever his subject in the torments of hell. Now, Christian parents! Your children were born into this world as citizens and subjects of Satan. You knew this, and therefore you felt that something was wanting to fill up the measure of your happiness at their birth. It was not the subject of Satan, but the subject of Jesus Christ, that you wished to press to your heart. Your children were therefore taken from the cradle, and in the midst of the rejoicings of the whole family, in the arms of a godfather and of a godmother who were to lend to them their heart and tongue; they were taken, as it were, to the open court of Christ's kingdom on earth, that is, to the en trance of the house of God, humbly begging the Church to admit them to become her children, subjects of Jesus Christ, and citizens of his kingdom.
