Communion

[doniker]

Hello. I need to gain some knowledge about communion. I did talk to my priest about this about a month or so ago but I was nervous and he really didn’t give me a direct answer.

I am a 53 year old married man (not married in Catholic church).

I was baptized a month after I was born and I made my first communion when I was in 2nd grade.

By the time I was a teenager I stopped going to church so I never made my confirmation. I am a recovering alcoholic (today I am 159 days sober) and over the last few months I have become more spiritual. I go to AA meetings 6 days a week. My wife (who is also Catholic, been confirmed and did recently make confession) and I just started attending Sunday mass 4 weeks ago.

My wife and I are planning on renewing our vows in the Catholic church.

My question is when can we start receiving communion? Do I have to wait until I have been confirmed, made confession and get married in the Catholic church?

Or do I only have to do one or two of our these three things?

Again I did try to ask my priest but he didn’t give me a direct answer and told me to come see him once we get our baptism records together for the marriage.

Please advise. Thank you.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Going to see him actually is the best, most correct answer. The reason being is that he may need additional details about your circumstances to properly guide you, as these things aren’t always surface-level black-and-white.

Likely, you simply need confession and possibly convalidation of the marriage, but the priest may advise differently and/or give advice, guidelines, or even restrictions specifically for you and your wife to help you come to understand and appreciate the Church’s teaching on the sacraments.

 

[doniker]

OK THANKS.

My wife had hip replacement surgery 5 days ago, so as soon as she is able we will go see the priest to start the paperwork for our church wedding.

 

[Todd977]

If you and your wife are willing to refrain from sex and live as brother and sister until your marriage is convalidated, then, in order to receive Holy Communion, all you need to do is go to Confession.

 

[doniker]

If you and your wife are willing to refrain from sex and live as brother and sister until your marriage is convalidated, then, in order to receive Holy Communion, all you need to do is go to Confession.

Well with her bad hip their hasn’t been much sex going on the last few years.

We have been together 23 years and married 20 of those years. My priest didn’t seem to concerned about us just continuing as we were.

 

[Todd977]

You might need to be Confirmed before your marriage can be convalidated. You’ll need to check with your priest on that. The Code of Canon Law says:
Canon 1065 §1. Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before they are admitted to marriage if it can be done without grave inconvenience.

 

[Todd977]

Well with her bad hip their hasn’t been much sex going on the last few years.

We have been together 23 years and married 20 of those years. My priest didn’t seem to concerned about us just continuing as we were.

As long as it is your intention to refrain from sex until your marriage can be convalidated, then, in order to be eligible to receive Holy Communion, all you need to do is go to Confession.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Talk to the priest. As I stated before, there are questions to address. Prior marriages make a difference, if any. There are other factors as well. While the previous poster is not wrong, per se, it’s not always as black and white as he states.

Furthermore, the advice about confirmation before convalidation is actually backwards here. (You’ll need to convalidare first, is more likely to be the case.) Again, the nuances are not easily addressed by Internet anonymity. Peace and my prayers, OP.

 

[poche]

You might need to be Confirmed before your marriage can be convalidated. You’ll need to check with your priest on that. The Code of Canon Law says:
Canon 1065 §1. Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before they are admitted to marriage if it can be done without grave inconvenience.

I have been to some weddings where the sacrament is incorporated into the ceremony.