Are wedding vows really vows?

[Dan_Daly]

I was reading through the Catholic Dictionary by Donald Attwater (excellent book) and a very interesting question came up.

Under “Simple Vows” it tells us that you can’t take a simple vow until you are past 16 years old, and that a simple vow in most cases makes an act contrary to the vow illict but not invalid (although it does make them invalid in some cases). As a specific example it states that a person with a simple vow to celibacy COULD validly marry, although the marriage would be illicit.

Under “Solemn Vows” it tells us that you have to be 21 years old, and that a solemn vow makes a contrary act invalid. So a person with a solemn vow to celibacy could not possibly be married validly.

So…

What about “wedding vows”? You can get married before 21, so that would seem to eliminate solemn vows. However, once married, you can not validly marry someone else, which would seem to eliminate simple vows. So all that I’m left with is the conclusion that “wedding vows” aren’t really vows at all.

Interesting, huh?

Pax Christi

 

[puzzleannie]

your explanation is incomplete which destroys your thesis because you ignore relevant canon law on vows in all their forms, age, celibacy, and marriage.

 

[Thankfulness]

I believe you will find that “Solemn vows” and “simple vows” relate to Religious Orders, not to marriage

Canon Law states:
Can. 1083 §1." A man before he has completed his sixteenth year of age and a woman before she has completed her fourteenth year of age cannot enter into a valid marriage."
That is to say, at 17 for a man and 15 for a girl, it is permissible to make marriage vows.

 

[lisahiku]

LOL!

 

[amlcssr]

I believe you will find that “Solemn vows” and “simple vows” relate to Religious Orders, not to marriage

Canon Law states:
Can. 1083 §1." A man before he has completed his sixteenth year of age and a woman before she has completed her fourteenth year of age cannot enter into a valid marriage."
That is to say, at 17 for a man and 15 for a girl, it is permissible to make marriage vows.

When is a baby 1 year old? at birth, or after completing one year?
So marriage is actually possible at age 16 for a man, and 14 for a girl, in the general case (that is, not considering law specific to the U.S or other country).

 

[Bookcat]

“Vow” is a term that is in practice gets used in different senses.

As to “vows” of the type you mean …here are the canons:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM

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CCC:

Promises and vows

2101 In many circumstances, the Christian is called to make promises to God. Baptism and Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders always entail promises. Out of personal devotion, the Christian may also promise to God this action, that prayer, this alms-giving, that pilgrimage, and so forth. Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of the respect owed to the divine majesty and of love for a faithful God.

2102 "A vow is a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion,"21 A vow is an act of devotion in which the Christian dedicates himself to God or promises him some good work. By fulfilling his vows he renders to God what has been promised and consecrated to Him. the Acts of the Apostles shows us St. Paul concerned to fulfill the vows he had made.22

 

[Dan_Daly]

Thanks.

Pax