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Hi, Evvaj —
Thanks for your questions!
Dowries don't appear to be especially connected with Catholic marriage
practices. They were a custom in many countries and cultures before Christianity
began in the world, and appeared in both Christian and non-Christian cultures.
They persist today in India, for example, and in certain African cultures.
The Catholic Encyclopedia under the Sacrament of Marriage says the following
about a dowry:
| The dowry, the use of which devolves on the man, is given as a contribution
towards bearing the natural burdens of marriage, i.e., the support of
the family, and the education of the offspring, not as the price of the
sacrament. |
Best wishes —
Richard Chonak and Mike Humphrey
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