The Validity of Virginal Marriage: A Doctoral Dissertation Presented in the Theological Faculty of the Pontifical Gregorian University

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pp. 2-3 (PDF pp. 15-16) is a good list of married virgin saints.

On PDF p. 62 (cf. PDF p. 22), Fr. Ford claims that relation (essence of marriage) is "in the category of accidents", but is this true? Relations in the Holy Trinity, for example, are His essence, not accidents.

AER review (vol. 100, iss. 2, pp. 190-1):

Father John C. Ford’s doctoral dissertation, The Validity of Virginal Marriage (Worcester, Mass. Harrigan Press, Inc. Pp. ix+139) presents a discussion on what constitutes the essence of marriage that the priest on the mission will find practical, interesting and helpful. The theme itself is principally of academic interest, but the treatment brings up theological points that are of timely interest.

The thesis is divided into two parts: the essence of marriage, and the condition of preserving virginity. The conclusion of the first part is that marriage is a moral bond between man and woman which consists in the perpetual, exclusive right to one another’s persons with a view to the acts of conjugal life and love. The second part, from which the thesis takes its title, compares the condition of preserving virginity with the essence of marriage and decides that the two are not contradictory. The position is defended against objections and is confirmed by arguments drawn from universally admitted doctrine with regard to premarital and post-marital agreements. In an interesting appendix Father Ford lists 78 authors who favor the validity of virginal marriage and 55 who are “inclined” to deny it. The author has not disgressed and has handled his matter well. One would wish for a fuller development of some points, but the dissertation will well repay reading.