Blessing of marriages not in Catholic Church?

[bejo]

Anyone know what this means? If a previous marriage is not annulled, how can they receive the sacraments? There are a few couples that are now receiving communion, but their marriage has not been annulled. When talking to them, they said Fr. had blessed their marriage. Another couple is getting married in April on an Army base (non-Catholic ceremony) and after Father will bless it and they can receive communion. Is this something new? I had never heard of this.

 

[Titus]

Sounds like they’re talking about a convalidation. But that doesn’t replace an annulment of course. If they have no annulment they may not marry, and that marriage does not have the Church’s blessing. Either you have the wrong end of the stick or they are in serious breach of the law.

 

[puzzleannie]

some people say “blessing the marriage” when they mean convalidation, that is, when those in a civil marriage now exchange vows in front of a priest or deacon. There is a preparation required for convalidation, which of course includes investigation of their freedom to marry, including going through the annulment process if it is indicated.

Why not let the pastor be the judge of these situations, which is his job. It is a mortal sin to lie about one’s marriage status and a serious breech of canon law, which is why those preparing for marriage must sign a statement on their freedom to marry. So in Christian charity the rest of us assume the parties and the priest have followed the law, and we don’t judge, since it is impossible for us to be in possession of all the facts.

 

[1ke]

Anyone know what this means?

This is convalidation. It is a provision under Canon Law for a marriage that is a civil marriage, one that lacked form, or was otherwise invalid to become valid.

If a previous marriage is not annulled, how can they receive the sacraments?

Are you perhaps confusing two things? Their current marriage, if performed civilly for example, doesn’t need to be “annulled” it needs to be convalidated.

If they have a prior marriaeg to someone else, then that marriage would have to be investigatee by the Tribunal and declared null before their current marriage could be convalidated.

There are a few couples that are now receiving communion, but their marriage has not been annulled. When talking to them, they said Fr. had blessed their marriage. Another couple is getting married in April on an Army base (non-Catholic ceremony) and after Father will bless it and they can receive communion. Is this something new? I had never heard of this.

I definitely think you have the wrong idea about what an annulment is.

Convalidation is not new.

 

[bejo]

Sorry about not being explicit enough. Guess I have that fault. I know a little about annulment. My husbands first marriage was annulled in the 70’s, but it took 7 years for the annulment and our marriage in the Church, and during this time I went to Mass, but never received the sacraments during these 7 years. I am really not trying to judge anyone, but just want to know if there are new regulations concerning a previous marriage that had not been annulled, and how can it be blessed by a priest if the annulment process was not accepted? Does a blessing sanction the reception of the sacraments?

 

[puzzleannie]

it would be best to use the proper term, convalidation, since a blessing could be construed in many ways. No a Catholic may not marry unless and until every previous marriage has been investigated and a judgement made on whether or not a valid marriage existed. A convalidation is a marriage ceremony, not just a blessing, wherein a couple who has been married civilly is now exchanging vows witnessed in the Catholic Church according to Catholic canon law on marriage.
Since there is no way we can know the circumstances of any couple, it is best not to speculate.

 

[bejo]

Thanks for the info–I did find this site. (Convalidation is a new word for me.)

familyministries.org/www.inthespiritofcana.org/2.6.9.htm

“Convalidation is the name for the process by which the Catholic Church officially recognizes a marriage valid only in civil law or recognized there and by some non-Catholic religion. Con validation is a new act of marriage consent, one now officially recognized by the Catholic Church. The consent must be exchanged before a priest or deacon, with at least two other witnesses.”