Blessed marriage

[richsmith]

Recently a young couple, her a Catholic and he LDS, were married by a minister in the great outdoors. Now she wishes to have the marriage “blessed” in the Church. Question: I understand that this marriage was between a baptized and a “non baptized” person, and even though the ministers are the candidates thenselves, the Church does not consider this a sacramental marriage. Question: With a dispensation of the local bishop, can a Priest now witness a sacramental marriage for the Catholic party? In otherwords, can she receive the sacrament of marriage?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

A priest can witness the convalidation of their marriage, and they should definitely pursue this. Convalidation would make their marriage valid, but not sacramental. Both parties need to be baptized (Christian, not necessarily Catholic) in order for it to be sacramental.

After convalidation, if he were someday to be baptized a Christian, their marriage would “automatically” become sacramental, I think (no additional ceremony needed).

 

[1ke]

Valid and sacramental are two distinct things.

Her marriage is currently invalid due to lack of form. She needs to discuss convalidation with her priest. Convalidation will make her marriage valid. This will allow her to return to the Sacraments.

A Sacrament can only take place when both parties are baptized in the Trinitarian formula. LDS are NOT considered to have valid baptism. Therefore, her marriage-- after convalidation-- would be valid but not a sacrament. It would be what is known as a natural marriage. Only if the husband receives baptism into a Christian church would her marriage become a Sacrament.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .
After convalidation, if he were someday to be baptized a Christian, their marriage would “automatically” become sacramental, I think (no additional ceremony needed).

Right. I have had several such cases in RCIA.

 

[maryjk]

Similar question, but talking about me.

I was married to my current and only husband by a judge.

We later, after my return to the Church, had a Convalidation.

I am Catholic (Baptized), he is not, but he was Baptized.

So am I correct in saying, "We received the Sacrament of Marriage on blah blah blah (the date).

 

[FrDavid96]

Similar question, but talking about me.

I was married to my current and only husband by a judge.

We later, after my return to the Church, had a Convalidation.

I am Catholic (Baptized), he is not, but he was Baptized.

So am I correct in saying, "We received the Sacrament of Marriage on blah blah blah (the date).

YES. No question about it. You did receive the Sacrament.

 

[LilyM]

YES. No question about it. You did receive the Sacrament.

Assuming that the date is the date of the convalidation of course.

Am I right, Father David, in thinking that all marriages blessed by the Church would be sacramental in regards the Catholic parties, even if one of the spouses is not Catholic? Can God confer a sacrament upon one spouse even if not upon both?

 

[maryjk]

Assuming that the date is the date of the convalidation of course.

Of course.
Generally, when someone asks how long we have been married, I will tell them the number of years since we were married by the judge. If they are Catholic, and known to me, I will say something like, " We have been married 17 years, but received the Sacrament of Marriage 5 1/2 years ago." But, it is not something I advertise, unless I feel they need to know or should know.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Recently a young couple, her a Catholic and he LDS, were married by a minister in the great outdoors. Now she wishes to have the marriage “blessed” in the Church. Question: I understand that this marriage was between a baptized and a “non baptized” person, and even though the ministers are the candidates thenselves, the Church does not consider this a sacramental marriage. Question: With a dispensation of the local bishop, can a Priest now witness a sacramental marriage for the Catholic party? In otherwords, can she receive the sacrament of marriage?

It can become a Sacramental Marriage only if the non-Baptized person receives valid Baptism. The Marriage itself can be a valid Marriage if the Bishop granted his dispensation for the Catholic to Marry a non-Baptized person, otherwise the Marriage is automatically invalid by Canon Law. And it can also be a valid Marriage with the above dispensation, if the bishop granted permission for them to marry without a Catholic priest and out of doors.

 

[56cc]

I am looking for direction here. I am certain this has been answered somewhere…I have a little friend who is in pregnant and not married…yet. She is Methodist and he is Catholic. They will be married in a few weeks in the Methodist church. All have agreed the children will be raised in the Catholic faith How can their marriage be made recognized by the Catholic Churc? Both were baptized as infants.
Thank you.

 

[puzzleannie]

. Question: With a dispensation of the local bishop, can a Priest now witness a sacramental marriage for the Catholic party? In otherwords, can she receive the sacrament of marriage?

a sacramental marriage can only exist between two validly baptized persons. Her marriage will become valid, when with the proper dispensation she has her marriage convalidated in the presence of a priest or deacon, but it will not become sacramental unless and until the non-baptized party undergoes valid baptism. At that moment, the marriage becomes sacramental w/o any further action being needed.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I am looking for direction here. I am certain this has been answered somewhere…I have a little friend who is in pregnant and not married…yet. She is Methodist and he is Catholic. They will be married in a few weeks in the Methodist church. All have agreed the children will be raised in the Catholic faith How can their marriage be made recognized by the Catholic Churc? Both were baptized as infants.
Thank you.

Generally speaking the Catholic Church will suggest that they wait a year or two before getting Married. This is to insure that the pregnancy and child is NOT the reason they are getting Married. If they Marry because they feel pressured or obligated to because of the pregnancy it would most likely be considered grounds for an annulment.

 

[puzzleannie]

Similar question, but talking about me.

I was married to my current and only husband by a judge.

We later, after my return to the Church, had a Convalidation.

I am Catholic (Baptized), he is not, but he was Baptized.

So am I correct in saying, "We received the Sacrament of Marriage on blah blah blah (the date).

if you had both been validly baptized, you marriage became both valid and sacramental when you convalidated in the presence of the priest or deacon according to Catholic canon law

 

[puzzleannie]

I am looking for direction here. I am certain this has been answered somewhere…I have a little friend who is in pregnant and not married…yet. She is Methodist and he is Catholic. They will be married in a few weeks in the Methodist church. All have agreed the children will be raised in the Catholic faith How can their marriage be made recognized by the Catholic Churc? Both were baptized as infants.
Thank you.

the Catholic party should meet with his pastor for guidance on how to proceed in preparing for marriage in conformity with Catholic law. It is a grave sin for a Catholic to attempt marriage outside the Church and he is separating himself from communion with the Church in so doing. Should they go ahead with this ill-advised plan, he can in the future petition for both dispensation of proper form (in marrying a non-Catholic) and to convalidate the marriage according to Catholic law. At that point, the marriage will become both valid and sacramental, because both are baptized.

 

[FrDavid96]

Assuming that the date is the date of the convalidation of course.

Am I right, Father David, in thinking that all marriages blessed by the Church would be sacramental in regards the Catholic parties, even if one of the spouses is not Catholic? Can God confer a sacrament upon one spouse even if not upon both?

As long as both parties are baptised Christians and everything else is “in order” the marriage is a sacrament.

If one is Catholic and the other unbaptised…
Can we say that the Catholic is in a Sacramental marriage, but the non-baptised is in a natural non-sacramental marriage? I think not because it goes against the very nature of marriage itself to say that one party is in one marriage and another party is in a different type of marriage. Does that make sense?

 

[puzzleannie]

As long as both parties are baptised Christians and everything else is “in order” the marriage is a sacrament.

If one is Catholic and the other unbaptised…
Can we say that the Catholic is in a Sacramental marriage, but the non-baptised is in a natural non-sacramental marriage? I think not because it goes against the very nature of marriage itself to say that one party is in one marriage and another party is in a different type of marriage. Does that make sense?

both the Catholic and unbaptized party are in a valid natural marriage. It cannot be sacramental unless and until both parties are baptized.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I am looking for direction here. I am certain this has been answered somewhere…I have a little friend who is in pregnant and not married…yet. She is Methodist and he is Catholic. They will be married in a few weeks in the Methodist church. All have agreed the children will be raised in the Catholic faith How can their marriage be made recognized by the Catholic Churc? Both were baptized as infants.
Thank you.

It is possible that your friend has already spoken to her Catholic pastor and secured the necessary dispensation for having the wedding outside the Catholic church. If so, then she is fine. If not, she needs to speak to her pastor right away.