Dist. 32, Art. 1, Q. 1
by St. Bonaventure
Source text: Public Domain Mark 1.0. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://bonaventure.wrootpress.com/browse/4/d/32/q/bon-sent-IV-d32-a1-q1
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### Article I. *On the obligation of spouses by comparison to the vow of continence.*
### Question I. *Whether after carnal union a man may be continent, the wife being unwilling.*

As to the first point it is shown that he may not:

1. Because after carnal union *the man does not have power over his own body*: if he does not have it, then he cannot make of it a sacrifice of continence, the wife being unwilling.

2. Likewise, Augustine says, and it is contained in the text: "Not only do we not exhort you, but we even forbid you to fulfill what you have vowed, if perchance your spouse refuses to undertake this with you through weakness of soul or of flesh."

3. Likewise, it seems so by reason: because the woman is not bound to be continent, nor can the man compel her to continence; but he does compel her if, she being unwilling, he wishes to keep continence: therefore, since he cannot compel [her], he cannot be continent.

4. Likewise, just as a servant is bound to obey his master, so a man [is bound] to render the debt to his wife, and more strongly so, because it is confirmed by the Lord; but a servant, his master forbidding, cannot enter religion, or withdraw himself from his master's service: therefore etc.

**On the contrary:** 1. It is licit for a man, even his wife forbidding, to take the cross in aid of the Holy Land; but the vow of continence is still better: therefore etc.

2. Likewise, the wife forbidding, one may expose his body to martyrdom and death; and then it is agreed that he renders himself unable to pay the debt: therefore etc.

3. Likewise, however much one swears, or vows, or binds himself not to fulfill the counsels; neither the oath nor the vow holds: therefore no one can bind himself so as not always to do the better thing; but it is better to be continent, as the Apostle says: therefore etc.

4. Likewise, whoever hinders someone willing to ascend to a higher state sins gravely, because he opposes the Holy Spirit: therefore if a man wishes to be continent and to enter religion, it seems that the wife is bound to consent: therefore if he wishes, he can be compelled to this by law: therefore etc.

### Conclusion.

> After carnal union, the wife being unwilling, a man cannot be continent so as not to render the debt, but only so as not to demand it.

**I respond:** It must be said that to be continent is [understood] in two ways: either wholly so, that he neither demands nor pays the debt; or not wholly so, that he does not demand the debt, yet pays it to the one demanding. In the first way a man cannot be continent, the wife being unwilling, because he cannot take from her the right which she has over the man's body; in the second way he can be continent, she contradicting, and he can vow [it]; and if he vows, he is bound to keep [it], namely that he never demand the debt. — Therefore the reasons proving that he cannot be wholly continent are to be granted.

**To the objections:**

1. To that which is objected, that he can take the cross; it must be said that this was done in favor and for the necessity of the Holy Land; nor was there made an entire derogation of the woman's right, because the woman ought to will to be continent for a time on account of so great a necessity; and if she is unwilling, she can follow her husband. But when continence is vowed, then the woman is wholly deprived of her right, and that for the time of her whole life.

2. To that which is objected concerning martyrdom, it must be said that one can die for Christ, if necessity presses, because the woman is bound to will this; and if the man voluntarily offers himself, the woman cannot forbid [it], because, he being dead, she will be able to contract with another. But it is not so when he vows, the wife being alive.

3. To that which is objected, that it is always licit to do what is better, nor can a man bind himself to a lesser good; it must be said that this is true of him who has power over his own body. — Or it must be said that if he is continent by not demanding, but only by paying, he merits no less than if he were wholly continent. Hence Augustine says, and it is contained in the text: "For perfect sanctification God will reckon it to you, if you do not exact what is owed to you, but render what you owe to your wife."

4. To that which is objected concerning him who hinders someone etc., it must be said that he sins who hinders someone for this reason, that in him he extinguishes a good purpose and a gift of the Holy Spirit; but the woman in this cannot consent without its being to her own prejudice, because, if she grants to the man that he vow continence, she too is bound to be continent. Since therefore she cannot be compelled to continence, because this is a counsel; therefore I say that she does not sin, but if *another* woman were to hinder [him], then it would be a sin.