D
dottie123
Guest
If you have been baptized and made your communion but not your confirmation, can you gat married in a catholic church?
Can you get married in a catholic church if you didnt get confirmed
- Status
I
IrishAm
Guest
Usually, yes, you can. But not always. (Typical vague answer. 
)
Even one Catholic and one Protestant can get married in the Church with permission. However, if the reason one is not confirmed is because of a serious negative – i.e., “I didn’t get confirmed because I don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus” – then there is a problem. Generally speaking, without knowing all the details and specifics, not being confirmed is not an impediment to a Catholic marriage.
)Even one Catholic and one Protestant can get married in the Church with permission. However, if the reason one is not confirmed is because of a serious negative – i.e., “I didn’t get confirmed because I don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus” – then there is a problem. Generally speaking, without knowing all the details and specifics, not being confirmed is not an impediment to a Catholic marriage.
Y
YADA
Guest
Dottie,
COnfirmation is one of the three Initiation Rites - is there a reason you have not been confirmed?
Typically marriages in the catholic church are months out [scheduling of the church, marriage preparation classes etc.]. Our parish information states to begin the marriage process 6 to 9 months ahead of the blessed event … that amount of lead time should allow for a person to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation [in most cases] …
It would seem [at least to me] that a person who was desiring to receive the Sacrament of Marriage would also desire to be a completely initiated Christian Adult. Confirmation [as practiced in the Latin Rite where is it received years after] is an adult affirmation of the faith promise made on yor behalf as a child by your parents and God parents … it is your declaration of who you are in Christ Jesus and in how you intend to lead that life in Christ …
It seems [from a purely logincal standpoint and I am in no way promoting this as a Church position] that a person unable to make that commitment as an individual is probably not able to make the greater commitment to live their life in union with another person and Christ [as in it takes Three to get Married - a great book by Fulton Sheen - I highly recommend it!]
Anyway, I highly recommend prayer and seeking the advice of others …
If you are preparing for marriage God Bless you and Congratulations!
I am sure you will work out all of the details … just take your time and ask God’s guidance in your life…
COnfirmation is one of the three Initiation Rites - is there a reason you have not been confirmed?
Typically marriages in the catholic church are months out [scheduling of the church, marriage preparation classes etc.]. Our parish information states to begin the marriage process 6 to 9 months ahead of the blessed event … that amount of lead time should allow for a person to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation [in most cases] …
It would seem [at least to me] that a person who was desiring to receive the Sacrament of Marriage would also desire to be a completely initiated Christian Adult. Confirmation [as practiced in the Latin Rite where is it received years after] is an adult affirmation of the faith promise made on yor behalf as a child by your parents and God parents … it is your declaration of who you are in Christ Jesus and in how you intend to lead that life in Christ …
It seems [from a purely logincal standpoint and I am in no way promoting this as a Church position] that a person unable to make that commitment as an individual is probably not able to make the greater commitment to live their life in union with another person and Christ [as in it takes Three to get Married - a great book by Fulton Sheen - I highly recommend it!]
Anyway, I highly recommend prayer and seeking the advice of others …
If you are preparing for marriage God Bless you and Congratulations!
I am sure you will work out all of the details … just take your time and ask God’s guidance in your life…
K
kathielee
Guest
Pretty much, yes, if you are Catholic. The only reason you couldn’t is if your priest thinks that you need to reevaluate your Catholicism. Even a confirmed Catholic can be denied to be married by a priest if the priest thinks you are in grave sin and won’t repent.
But, without any “if’s” to muddy the waters, the straight answer is yes…but always** always **talk to your priest about this and all questions regarding our Faith. Kathie
C
cameron_lansing
Guest
The normal expectation of church law is that confirmation would be received, and this can be discussed with the priest. "§1. If they can do so without serious inconvenience, Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before being admitted to marriage. §2. It is strongly recommended that those to be married approach the sacraments of penance and the Most Holy Eucharist so that they may fruitfully receive the sacrament of marriage. "(canon 1056, italics not in original)
“All persons who are not prohibited by law can contract marriage.” (canon 1058)
“Before marriage is celebrated, it must be evident that nothing stands in the way of its valid and licit celebration.” (canon 1066).
Thus, marriage can be delayed but not denied by a priest unless there is a reason it would be invalid or illicit according to Church law. The lack of confirmation is not listed among the impediments to marriage for Catholics.
If a Catholic party is not practicing the faith properly, the priest would certainly need to confront that, but it would not make such a marriage invalid or illicit. “Pastors of souls are obliged to see to it that their own ecclesial community furnishes the Christian faithful assistance so that the matrimonial state is maintained in a Christian spirit and makes progress toward perfection.” (canon 1063) This includes a period of “2º personal preparation for entering marriage so that through such preparation the parties may be predisposed toward the holiness and duties of their new state.” It aims at “3º a fruitful liturgical celebration of marriage clarifying that the spouses signify and share in that mystery of unity and of fruitful love that exists between Christ and the Church.”
If a Catholic person has notoriously (publicly) rejected the Catholic faith, it would be necessary to obtain the permission of the local ordinary -read, the diocesan bishop for practical purposes - in most cases (canon 1071). This would be far more than a lapse or laxness in practicing the faith, but a public and continuing willful rejection.
“All persons who are not prohibited by law can contract marriage.” (canon 1058)
“Before marriage is celebrated, it must be evident that nothing stands in the way of its valid and licit celebration.” (canon 1066).
Thus, marriage can be delayed but not denied by a priest unless there is a reason it would be invalid or illicit according to Church law. The lack of confirmation is not listed among the impediments to marriage for Catholics.
If a Catholic party is not practicing the faith properly, the priest would certainly need to confront that, but it would not make such a marriage invalid or illicit. “Pastors of souls are obliged to see to it that their own ecclesial community furnishes the Christian faithful assistance so that the matrimonial state is maintained in a Christian spirit and makes progress toward perfection.” (canon 1063) This includes a period of “2º personal preparation for entering marriage so that through such preparation the parties may be predisposed toward the holiness and duties of their new state.” It aims at “3º a fruitful liturgical celebration of marriage clarifying that the spouses signify and share in that mystery of unity and of fruitful love that exists between Christ and the Church.”
If a Catholic person has notoriously (publicly) rejected the Catholic faith, it would be necessary to obtain the permission of the local ordinary -read, the diocesan bishop for practical purposes - in most cases (canon 1071). This would be far more than a lapse or laxness in practicing the faith, but a public and continuing willful rejection.
K
kathielee
Guest
A piece of advice for the person who asked, and you probably agree, Deacon…When I was 23, I contacted a priest to get married and he found out I had not been to Mass in 4 years. He would not marry me until I had changed my ways and updated myself in the Faith. I got the usual attitude for 1973 and called a Methodist minister to marry us quick and simple. MISTAKE.
Pride is a real problem…huge problem…if you (original poster) finds out that you need to do a few things, do them. You will not regret it, as I did.
Kathie
P
ProVobis
Guest
It certainly helps if you’re confirmed as your confirmed name will be one of the names entered on your marriage certificate. To many confirmation is one of the most memorable moments of their lives; I know it was mine. And as I sponsored several, those were important days of my life as well.
K
kathielee
Guest
A confirmation name isn’t on a marriage license unless you put it there. Kathie
P
ProVobis
Guest
Yes, but why wouldn’t you want it there?
K
kathielee
Guest
When you said it would be on your license, it wasn’t a matter of wanting or not wanting it there. Our confirmation name isn’t considered a legal name unless we continually use it on all documents for 7-10 years depending on the State’s laws.
The person you addressed it to might think that they would have to be confirmed because the name is on the marriage license.
Kathie
P
puzzleannie
Guest
canon law requires the Catholic to complete his Christian initation first, before marriage, if it can be done so without GRAVE inconvenience. For instance if the wedding is set for April and Confirmation date is in May, the wedding can proceed, and the candidate be confirmed at the date set by the bishop after completing his preparation. Attending a class or meetings and meeting requirements of the bishop does not constitute grave inconvenience.
The pastor must assure himself that the couple planning to marry has sufficient maturity to understand and capacity to accept the rights and duties of Christian marriage. Deliberate refusal of Confirmation casts doubt on the maturity and capacity of such a person. Much more common is a person who simply did not receive confirmation with peers at the usual age, often because of family situations, and genuinely seeks and desires the fullness of the sacraments now. He can prepare for confirmation concurrently with marriage preparation, he does not have to wait to set the wedding date until then.
IMO it is insanity to attempt marriage, the most demanding and difficult of vocations, without fully asking and accepting the help of the Holy Spirit and without solidly rooting the marriage in the sacramental economy.
P
ProVobis
Guest
You’re right, of course. Confirmation name isn’t legal per se. Still, I thought it was a good thing to have.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
confirmation name is irrelevant to this discussion. you may choose another saint besides your baptismal name saint as a patron when you are confirmed, it is not required, and in any case has no effect whatever in civil law.
P
Phemie
Guest
Not everyone gets a ‘confirmation name’. It’s not something that’s part of the confirmation rite, even if it is tradition in some locales.
P
ProVobis
Guest
You choose your name, you don’t get it. Sorry that it’s being discontinued, though. I know some of the other Christian denominations don’t have it either. End result is that many Christians end up with no feast days, which is a big thing in Europe, or at least it used to be. But, as one poster pointed out, it’s irrelevant to the discussion. No big deal I guess.
R
R_E
Guest
I was informed that they could get married but the marriage while valid would not be licit and that has been used as grounds for annulment
P
puzzleannie
Guest
informed by whom
if not by the priest in the course of marriage preparation, ignore it. If you have a question about your personsal circumstances, and it is quite possible that confirmation may be among a number of factors that must be addressed be fore you can marry, see the priest. the issue in such a hypothetical case would most likely not be that the person is not confirmed, but his reasons for avoiding or rejecting confirmation.
- Status