Self-Marriage

Archbishop Ruiz y Flores of Michoacan, Mexico, gave consolation last week to religious Mexicans who, although married according to civil ceremony, dared not be married by Roman Catholic rite. President Calles, enforcing his Mexican Constitution has forbidden this; and all Mexican girls could not afford to quit the country as did President Calles' own daughter (TIME, Feb. 28).

To his flock the archbishop gave instructions how to perform self-marriage without benefit of priest: "Prepare in your house an altar. Place upon it some image of your devotion. Upon your bended knees make the sign of the cross and recite the Lord's Prayer, Ave Maria and the Credo. Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ and give thanks to God. Then standing before the altar the bridegroom will say 'I -- before God and witnesses declare I wish to receive for my wife Sen0rita --as the Holy Roman Catholic Church prescribes.'" The girl says the equivalent.