Can there be multiple Official records of a Sacrament at a Parish?

[J.Kennedy]

A Sacrament can only be received once.

Since Marriage is a Sacrament, the record of the reception of the Sacrament needs to be recorded by the parish where the person’s baptismal records are located.

What would a parish do if multiple records of the same Sacrament, such as marriage would be sent to the parish? I would assume that a record of an annulment would also be noted there.

Would the parish send up a red flag? Do they have a duty to do so?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

John,

Careful, your opening statement is incorrect. There are *some *sacraments which can only be received once (baptism and confirmation are the ones most people are concerned with; Holy Orders is a single sacrament received in three stages, but most people aren’t concerned with that). All other sacraments may be received multiple times.

In general, the parish performing the marriage is responsible for the “prenuptual investigation” and ensuring that the sacrament is not exposed to nullity. There are a couple of reasons why one might have multiple marriages on file: annulment and death of a spouse. It is not the responsiblity of the parish of baptism (unless the marriage is taking place there) to investigate the recording of the sacrament – they simply record it.

Deacon Ed

 

[J.Kennedy]

Deacon Ed:

John,

Careful, your opening statement is incorrect. There are *some *sacraments which can only be received once (baptism and confirmation are the ones most people are concerned with; Holy Orders is a single sacrament received in three stages, but most people aren’t concerned with that). All other sacraments may be received multiple times.

Of course you are correct, I didn’t state my thoughts correctly. I was in fact referring to the first reception of the Sacrament only such as First Communion, etc.

I hadn’t thought of the death of a spouse and re-marrying. Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut and your clarification.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

John F. Kennedy:

A Sacrament can only be received once.

Since Marriage is a Sacrament, the record of the reception of the Sacrament needs to be recorded by the parish where the person’s baptismal records are located.

What would a parish do if multiple records of the same Sacrament, such as marriage would be sent to the parish? I would assume that a record of an annulment would also be noted there.

Would the parish send up a red flag? Do they have a duty to do so?

Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders are the three Sacraments that can only be received once in a life time. If a Parish would receive another notification of a “RE-Baptism”, “RE-Confirmation” or “RE-Ordination” then yes the Parish of Baptism would notify the other parish. Marriage, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy communion can all be received more than once.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

John F. Kennedy:

Since Marriage is a Sacrament, the record of the reception of the Sacrament needs to be recorded by the parish where the person’s baptismal records are located.

What would a parish do if multiple records of the same Sacrament, such as marriage would be sent to the parish? I would assume that a record of an annulment would also be noted there.

Would the parish send up a red flag? Do they have a duty to do so?

On occasion we have requested the Baptismal record of someone who has just received a Declaration of Nullity before the recording parish has received and recorded the Decree. The Certificate arrived with a literal red flag and a large print notice forbidding the marriage.

 

[J.Kennedy]

Joe Kelley:

On occasion we have requested the Baptismal record of someone who has just received a Declaration of Nullity before the recording parish has received and recorded the Decree. The Certificate arrived with a literal red flag and a large print notice forbidding the marriage.

Thanks, that’s good to know.