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Objection 1: It would seem that seven years is not fittingly
assigned as the age for betrothal. For a contract that can be formed
by others does not require discretion in those whom it concerns. Now a
betrothal can be arranged by the parents without the knowledge of either
of the persons betrothed. Therefore a betrothal can be arranged before
the age of seven years as well as after.
Objection 2: Further, just as some use of reason is necessary for
the contract of betrothal, so is there for the consent to mortal sin.
Now, as Gregory says (Dial. iv), a boy of five years of age was
carried off by the devil on account of the sin of blasphemy. Therefore
a betrothal can take place before the age of seven years.
Objection 3: Further, a betrothal is directed to marriage. But
for marriage the same age is not assigned to boy and girl.
Objection 4: Further, one can become betrothed as soon as future
marriage can be agreeable to one. Now signs of this agreeableness are
often apparent in boys before the age of seven. Therefore they can
become betrothed before that age.
Objection 5: Further, if persons become betrothed before they are
seven years old, and subsequently after the age of seven and before the
age of maturity renew their promise in words expressive of the present,
they are reckoned to be betrothed. Now this is not by virtue of the
second contract, since they intend to contract not betrothal but
marriage. Therefore it is by the virtue of the first; and thus
espousals can be contracted before the age of seven.
Objection 6: Further, when a thing is done by many persons in
common, if one fails he is supplied by another, as in the case of
those who row a boat. Now the contract of betrothal is an action
common to the contracting parties. Therefore if one be of mature age,
he can contract a betrothal with a girl who is not seven years old,
since the lack of age in one is more than counterbalanced in the other.
Objection 7: Further, those who at about the age of puberty, but
before it, enter into the marriage contract by words expressive of the
present are reputed to be married. Therefore in like manner if they
contract marriage by words expressive of the future, before yet close
on the age of puberty, they are to be reputed as betrothed.
I answer that, The age of seven years is fixed reasonably enough by
law for the contracting of betrothals, for since a betrothal is a
promise of the future, as already stated (Article 1), it follows
that they are within the competency of those who can make a promise in
some way, and this is only for those who can have some foresight of the
future, and this requires the use of reason, of which three degrees
are to be observed, according to the Philosopher (Ethic. i, 4).
The first is when a person neither understands by himself nor is able
to learn from another; the second stage is when a man can learn from
another but is incapable by himself of consideration and understanding;
the third degree is when a man is both able to learn from another and to
consider by himself. And since reason develops in man by little and
little, in proportion as the movement and fluctuation of the humors is
calmed, man reaches the first stage of reason before his seventh year;
and consequently during that period he is unfit for any contract, and
therefore for betrothal. But he begins to reach the second stage at
the end of his first seven years, wherefore children at that age are
sent to school. But man begins to reach the third stage at the end of
his second seven years, as regards things concerning his person, when
his natural reason develops; but as regards things outside his person,
at the end of his third seven years. Hence before his first seven
years a man is not fit to make any contract, but at the end of that
period he begins to be fit to make certain promises for the future,
especially about those things to which natural reason inclines us more,
though he is not fit to bind himself by a perpetual obligation, because
as yet he has not a firm will. Hence at that age betrothals can be
contracted. But at the end of the second seven years he can already
bind himself in matters concerning his person, either to religion or to
wedlock. And after the third seven years he can bind himself in other
matters also; and according to the laws he is given the power of
disposing of his property after his twenty-second year.
Reply to Objection 1: If the parties are betrothed by another
person before they reach the age of puberty, either of them or both can
demur; wherefore in that case the betrothal does not take effect, so
that neither does any affinity result therefrom. Hence a betrothal
made between certain persons by some other takes effect, in so far as
those between whom the betrothal is arranged do not demur when they
reach the proper age, whence they are understood to consent to what
others have done.
Reply to Objection 2: Some say that the boy of whom Gregory tells
this story was not lost, and that he did not sin mortally; and that
this vision was for the purpose of making the father sorrowful, for he
had sinned in the boy through failing to correct him. But this is
contrary to the express intention of Gregory, who says (Dial. iv)
that "the boy's father having neglected the soul of his little son,
fostered no little sinner for the flames of hell." Consequently it
must be said that for a mortal sin it is sufficient to give consent to
something present, whereas in a betrothal the consent is to something
future; and greater discretion of reason is required for looking to the
future than for consenting to one present act. Wherefore a man can sin
mortally before he can bind himself to a future obligation.
Reply to Objection 3: Regarding the age for the marriage contract a
disposition is required not only on the part of the use of reason, but
also on the part of the body, in that it is necessary to be of an age
adapted to procreation. And since a girl becomes apt for the act of
procreation in her twelfth year, and a boy at the end of his second
seven years, as the Philosopher says (De Hist. Anim. vii),
whereas the age is the same in both for attaining the use of reason
which is the sole condition for betrothal, hence it is that the one age
is assigned for both as regards betrothal, but not as regards
marriage.
Reply to Objection 4: This agreeableness in regard to boys under
the age of seven does not result from the perfect use of reason, since
they are not as yet possessed of complete self-control; it results
rather from the movement of nature than from any process of reason.
Consequently, this agreeableness does not suffice for contracting a
betrothal.
Reply to Objection 5: In this case, although the second contract
does not amount to marriage, nevertheless the parties show that they
ratify their former promise; wherefore the first contract is confirmed
by the second.
Reply to Objection 6: Those who row a boat act by way of one
cause, and consequently what is lacking in one can be supplied by
another. But those who make a contract of betrothal act as distinct
persons, since a betrothal can only be between two parties; wherefore
it is necessary for each to be qualified to contract, and thus the
defect of one is an obstacle to their betrothal, nor can it be supplied
by the other.
Reply to Objection 7: It is true that in the matter of betrothal if
the contracting parties are close upon the age of seven, the contract
of betrothal is valid, since, according to the Philosopher (Phys.
ii, 56), "when little is lacking it seems as though nothing were
lacking." Some fix the margin at six months. but it is better to
determine it according to the condition of the contracting parties,
since the use of reason comes sooner to some than to others.
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