Can one Marry on Ash Wednesday?

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estesbob

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A friend has a son who wants to marry prior to his deployment to Iraq. For reasons I am not sure of the only day they can do this is Ash Wednesday. i told them that although i knew one could get married in lent I seriously doubted they could get maried on Ash Wednensday. Was I right?
 
they need to speak to the priest or chaplain immediately. canon law specifically mentions the priest should do everything to assist those seeking sacramental marriage who are in special situations–migrants, military deployment etc.–but don’t leave it to the last minute. in the average parish no weddings would be scheduled, esp. here where there are almost non-stop back to back services scheduled, but that does not mean it could not happen at all, with a little good will and effort.
 
It might be tough to schedule around all the Ash Wednesday liturgies if it is a busy parish. Might need special permission but it might be able to be done. I’m surprised they need to do it on a Wednesday. Guess they aren’t planning to invite many people. I agree they need to make sure they contact the Priest ASAP if they haven’t done so already. If it’s a military chapel with few Masses then perhaps it is possible.

ETA- I have heard that the Nuptial Mass is not permitted on Ash Wednesday and any church service would have to be in keeping with the Penitential Nature of the day. They would have to request a dispensation of the abstinence/fast etc for the day if they wanted to celebrate afterwards. Otherwise any celebration must be extremely simple. There will probably be no flowers allowed or decorations.
 
He should contact a priest right away. Most parishes require at least 6 months (some 12 months) preparation.
 
This is what the marriage policy manual for our archdiocese says:
“Ritual Masses, including the wedding Mass, are prohibited on Ash Wednesday (GIRM #330). Since this is a major penitential day and one of the two days of fast and abstinence in the U.S.,
this would not be an appropriate day to celebrate marriage. Funeral Masses are permitted (GIRM #336)”

Perhaps they could marry on Shrove Tuesday night, instead.
 
I don’t know why they could not get married before Lent, but it does sound like there is serious reason why it can only be on Ash Wednesday.

By all means, speak to the Chaplain. Perhaps under the circumstances, a dispensation can be granted, but these take time.

Keep in mind that such a wedding, because of Lent, would have to be VERY low-key and it may not be appropriate to have a celebration afterwards.
 
bpbasilphx said:
I don’t know why they could not get married before Lent, but it does sound like there is serious reason why it can only be on Ash Wednesday.

By all means, speak to the Chaplain. Perhaps under the circumstances, a dispensation can be granted, but these take time.

Keep in mind that such a wedding, because of Lent, would have to be VERY low-key and it may not be appropriate to have a celebration afterwards.
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It appears that not only do they want to get Married on Ash Wednesday but now it appears they want to get married in the hall where they’re going to have their reception. I have a feeling they’re going to be in for a huge disappointment when they talk to their priest
 
The GIRM says:
372. Ritual Masses are connected to the celebration of certain Sacraments or Sacramentals. They are prohibited on Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, on solemnities, on the days within the Octave of Easter, on the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), on Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week, taking due account of the norms given in the ritual books or in the Masses themselves.
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That would seem to preclude getting married on Ash Wednesday. But, as PuzzleAnnie pointed out, exceptions likely can be made if the situation warrants. They should definitely talk to their priest well in advance, though.

I know you don’t know, and I know that I certainly don’t need to know, but I am curious as to what the circumstances would be to make this one day the only day in the next five months where they can get married. :confused:
 
Joe_5859 said:
The GIRM says:

That would seem to preclude getting married on Ash Wednesday. But, as PuzzleAnnie pointed out, exceptions likely can be made if the situation warrants. They should definitely talk to their priest well in advance, though.

I know you don’t know, and I know that I certainly don’t need to know, but I am curious as to what the circumstances would be to make this one day the only day in the next five months where they can get married. :confused:
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I asked the same question myself this morning and was told I had misunderstood them ( although the e-mail was quite clear) and they had to get married before Ash Wednesday. sorry for wasting everybody’s time!:o
 
estesbob said:
I asked the same question myself this morning and was told I had misunderstood them ( although the e-mail was quite clear) and they had to get married before Ash Wednesday. sorry for wasting everybody’s time!:o
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Well, now we’re all a bit more familiar with when we should not schedule a wedding. So it’s not a total loss. 😉
 
Joe_5859 said:
That would seem to preclude getting married on Ash Wednesday. But, as PuzzleAnnie pointed out, exceptions likely can be made if the situation warrants. They should definitely talk to their priest well in advance, though.
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Actually, it precludes getting married within a nuptial Mass. They could well get married in a regular Mass or within a liturgy of the Word. You can’t celebrate a Funeral Mass on those days either but it doesn’t mean you can’t bury anyone.

Why anyone would want to get married on a day of fast and abstinence is beyond me – but now it appears they won’t be doing that anyway so we can all stop worrying.😃
 
Phemie said:
Actually, it precludes getting married within a nuptial Mass. They could well get married in a regular Mass or within a liturgy of the Word. You can’t celebrate a Funeral Mass on those days either but it doesn’t mean you can’t bury anyone.
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Funeral Masses are permitted on Ash Wednesday (GIRM #336)
 
Ash Wednesday is one of the busiest days of the year for priests.

It would be , needless to say , a complicated situation to pull off.

I’d recommend they speak to their priest ASAP to see how this could be worked out.
 
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