284 Q. Can the bond of Christian marriage be dissolved by any human power?  A. The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power.

“Dissolved”—­that is, can married persons ever—­for any cause—­separate and marry again; that is, take another husband or wife while the first husband or wife is living?  Never, if they were really married.  Sometimes, for good reason, the Church permits husband and wife to separate and live in different places; but they are still married.  Sometimes it happens, too, that persons are not really married although they have gone through the ceremony and people think they are married, and they may think so themselves.  The Church, however, makes them separate, because it finds they are not really married at all—­on account of some impeding circumstance that existed at the time they performed the ceremony.  These circumstances or facts that prevent the marriage from being valid are called “Impediments to Marriage.”  Some of them render the marriage altogether null, and some only make it unlawful.  When persons make arrangements about getting married they should tell the priest every circumstance that they think might be an impediment.  Here are the chief things they should tell the priest—­privately, if possible.  Whether both are Christians and Catholics; whether either has ever been solemnly engaged to another person; whether they have ever made any vow to God with regard to chastity, the religious life, or the like; whether they are related and in what degree; whether either was ever married to any member of the other’s family—­say sister, brother, or cousin, etc.; whether either ever was a godparent in Baptism for the other or for any of the other’s children; whether either was married before, and what proof can be given of the death of the first husband or wife; whether they really intend to get married; whether they are of lawful age; whether they are in good health or suffering from some sickness that might prevent their marriage, etc.  They should also state whether they live in the parish, and how long they have lived in it.  They should give at least three weeks’ notice before their marriage, except in special cases of necessity.  They should not presume to make final arrangements and invite friends before they have made arrangements with their pastor; because if there should be any delay on account of impediments it would cause them great inconvenience.  Let me take an example of a fact that would render the marriage invalid or null though the persons performing the ceremony might not be aware of it.  Suppose a woman’s husband went to the war, and she heard after a great many years that he had been killed in battle, and she, believing her first husband to be dead, married another man.  But the report of the first husband’s death turns out to be false, and after a time he returns.  Then the Church tells the woman—­and she knows it now herself—­that the second marriage was invalid, that is, no marriage,