The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

476 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.affection. In a word, it brings into the household ablight and desolation which neither wealth nor luxury can repair.There is but one remedy to this social distemper ;and that is an absolute prohibition of divorce a vinculo, in accordance with the inflexible rule of theGospel and of the ancient Church. In Catholiccountries divorces are exceedingly rare, and are obtained only by such as have thrown off the yoke ofthe Church. And if the sacred laws of Matrimonyare still happily observed by so large a portion ofthe Protestant community, the purity of morals is inno small measure due to the presence among themof the Catholic religion, which exercises a beneficialinfluence even over those who are outside the paleof her communion, like the sun, whose benignantlight and heat are felt even in those secluded spotswhich his rays can but dimly penetrate.