Consent Under Special Aspects

We have seen that marriage consent cannot be expressed in the future tense; the spouses must accept each other here and now when they utter their consent. This is so even if an oath is added to the words of promise. For a promise, with or without an added oath, expresses what has not yet happened. A marriage happens at the moment consent is given and expressed.

A consent to future marriage, even with an oath, and even if followed by carnal use or marital rights, does not make a true marriage.