mark a:
Thanks all,
I’m also looking for info concerning Henry’s sister’s annulment. Is there anyone at all with this info???
By strange coincidence, yes, there is.
Henry VIII’s sister Margaret had been married off to James IV of Scotland, by her father, Henry VII. It was the usual story; a dynastic marriage to secure relations between Scotland and England. Didn’t work; 10 years later James was killed by the British at the battle of Flodden. The widowed Margaret was soon wed to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus.
After 13 years in this marriage, Margaret got a little restless. She became the mistress of Henry Stewart, Lord Methven, and sought a decree of nullity from her marriage to Douglas, in order to marry her new love.
In applying for a decree, the applicant had to make a case, a
causa, as to why the decree should be granted. Margaret’s had 2 parts. First she claimed that when Douglas had first married her, 13 years before, he was in fact subject to a pre-marital contract to another woman and not free to marry. That is, she claimed that there had been an diriment impediment to that marriage, an impediment of the justice of public honesty, caused by this marriage
de verba de futuro that Angus was involved in. Very canonical, if true. But she also claimed that when she did marry Douglas, her previous husband, James IV of Scotland, was still alive. According to Margaret, James hadn’t died at the Battle of Flodden, but had survived it by three years (a “fact” very surprising to those who had seen him killed). So the marriage to Douglas was claimed to be doubly invalid.
Henry thought that Margaret’s
causa was so absurd that he scolded her. None the less, in March 1527, 2 months before Henry filed his own more substantial case, the Roman rota issued the decree of nullity for Margaret. And so she and Stewart (who also had to get an annulment, surprise, surprise) were wed. And lived happily ever after? Naw. After awhile Margaret got restless again, and filed for a decree of nullity on the marriage to Stewart. Reason stated? That Stewart was the cousin, eight degrees removed, of Douglas, her second husband. This would have established an impediment of affinity in the eighth degree (direct, I think, but don’t hold me to it). Again, very canonical, as the system was at the time. And…she got that annulment, too. It was how the system worked, and even more so for ruling heads of state. As I said, Trent, Session 24 reformed many of these rules.
Henry had every expectation that his case woud sail through. And, except for the daunting figure of Charles, it would have.
Did I mention that Henry’s younger sister, Mary, married 2 men, both of whom had received decrees of nullity, in order to wed her? Should I?
Thanks for asking. More info available.
GKC
) is wrong and against Gods will. It destroys our families and our societies. I only said that I put God first when I hadn’t for so many years. Faith must be freely accepted. If you stay Anglican fine, if you become Catholic or whatever fine. There IS salvation outside the Catholic Church. (That’s explained in another thread quite well too.) It must be your choice and no one else’s. I admire you for being a loyal spouse too.
) I discovered the Church Fathers, that the Catholics obey Scripture, the truth in Sola Scripture, Sola Fida, baptism of infants, etc. When I studied truth and facts I had no choice but to become Catholic. As I told you I put God first while attending a Baptist church. I studied every denomination I could find and only one religious body survived. It was the last "Christian” religion I would have picked and the one I would have told you I would slit my wrists before joining. And look at me know, here I am. My marriage survived, I survived.
) We can have marriages with mixed denominations. It does add complexity but more importantly it adds “Faith”. Faith is not true unless you are true to you Faith.id you really intend this as a serious question? Someone needs to give you a brief introduction to the fine art of communicating without stupid insults.
