Date 10 February 1880 Text In English | Argument On Christian marriage | |
Encyclical number 4 of 85 of the pontificate | ||
Arcanum is an encyclical issued 10 February 1880 by Pope Leo XIII on the topic of Christian marriage. It was considered the forerunner to Pope Pius XI's 1930 Casti connubii and Pope Paul VI's 1968 Humanae vitae.
Summary
Arcanum outlines the role of marriage in modern time, and goes through those actions which weaken the marriage contract such as polygamy and divorce. The encyclical also posits the Church as a protector of marriage, and not one interfering in the marital relationship.
References
Arcanum (Catholic encyclical) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA