Can wedding vows be renewed for a couple by a nun instead of a priest/deacon? Does it matter where?

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I’ll omit the details surrounding this situation…but I’m trying to find out if if wedding vows can be renewed by a nun, or if the ceremony must be presided over by a priest or deacon. Also, are there any rules on where this type of ceremony can take place - must it be in a church, or can it be in a banquet hall.
This is for a Catholic couple - validly married in the Church 50 years ago.

If anyone could cite references for their response it would be helpful.

Thank you!
 
1.) Catholics don’t renew their vows, in the sense that once they are made, they are made for life. It isn’t like the DMV and a driver’s license. So, as far as validity, they’re done, as long as the original vows were according to the Rite of the Church (a priest and two witnesses, freedom to marry, etc.).

2.) Catholics do recommit to their vows on milestone occasions.

3.) It would make sense that it would be in a Catholic setting if possible, if there is going to be a Mass.

4.) Frequently, dicoeses have Marriage Days, with Masses and vow renewal for milestone anniversaries.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=153002

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=7296

http://www.diosav.org/node/624

The thing about the nun just confuses me!!!
 
catechizeme said:
I’ll omit the details surrounding this situation…but I’m trying to find out if if wedding vows can be renewed by a nun, or if the ceremony must be presided over by a priest or deacon. Also, are there any rules on where this type of ceremony can take place - must it be in a church, or can it be in a banquet hall.
This is for a Catholic couple - validly married in the Church 50 years ago.

If anyone could cite references for their response it would be helpful.

Thank you!
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I don’t think there are many rules for this. It can take place anywhere I would assume. Since it’s not the celebration of a Sacrament, just the recognizing of a Sacrament that took place 50 years ago. I would think that they would want to do this maybe at a daily Mass with family and friends.
 
The Book of Blessings has an “Order for the Blessing of a Married Couple”. It can take place outside of Mass, in which case: “115 The present order may be used by a priest or deacon. It may also be used by a layperson, who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister.” Part of the rubrics for this ceremony are in n. 123: “Then the minister invites the couple to pray in silence and to renew before God their sacramental matrimonial commitment to each other.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 28, 30). But there is no repetition of “I do”. The ceremony also has in the rubrics: “125 Or, if the couple renews the exchange of rings, the minister says the following prayer of blessing.” Nothing is said about the place for the ceremony, so I do not believe a church is required.
 
When my parents celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary, they celebrated it in the context of the Mass. Our former pastor blessed them. Then, that same year, the Bishop (at the time we were part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi) came to town and my parents participated in the vicariate-wide jubilee for couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries.

Why not have a Mass of Thanksgiving and ask your pastor to give your parents a special blessing? The Mass is the perfect prayer.
 
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