The conjugial inclination of one man to one wife is the jewel of human life and the depository of the Christian religion.

—­Conjugial Love, n. 457

THE PROGRESSIVE CHASTITY OF MARRIAGE

The love in marriage is from its origin and correspondence heavenly, spiritual, holy, pure and clean above every other love which the angels of heaven or men of the Church have from the Lord.  It is such from its origin, which is the marriage of good and truth; also from its correspondence with the marriage of the Lord and the Church.  If it be received from its Author, Who is the Lord, sanctity from Him follows, which continually cleanses and purifies it.  Then, if there be in man’s will a longing for it and an effort toward it, this love becomes continually cleaner and purer.  All who are in such love shun extra-conjugial loves (which are conjunctions with others than their own conjugial partner) as they would shun the loss of the soul and the lakes of hell; and in the measure that married partners shun such conjunctions, even in respect of libidinous desires of the will and any intentions from them, so far love truly conjugial is purified with them, and becomes successively spiritual.

—­Conjugial Love, nn. 64, 71

THE HEIGHT OF SERVICE

Conjugial love is the love at the foundation of all good loves, and is inscribed on all the least life of the human being.  Its delights therefore surpass the delights of all other loves, and it also gives delight to other loves, in the measure of its presence and union with them.  Into it all delights from first to last are collected, on account of the superior excellence of its use, which is the propagation of the human race, and from it of an angelic heaven.  As this service was the supreme end of creation, all the beatitudes, satisfaction, delights, pleasantnesses and pleasures, which the Lord the Creator could possibly confer upon man, are gathered into this love.

—­Conjugial Love, n. 68

ITS WHOLE ESTATE

The states of conjugial love are Innocence, Peace, Tranquillity, Inmost Friendship, full Confidence, and mutual desire of mind and heart to do each other every good.  From all of these come blessedness, satisfaction, agreeableness and pleasure; and as the eternal fruition of them, heavenly happiness.  These states can be realized only in the marriage of one man with one wife.

—­Conjugial Love, nn. 180, 181

THE SACRED SCRIPTURES

“They testify of Me.”

—­John, V, 39

GOD’S WORD