Could two Catholics marry in an outdoor, open air Catholic Chapel?

[mburn16]

can’t say I’ve ever wanted to get married outside - but I do very much desire to get married in a church outside of my home parish. Not because I dislike my home parish, but because there are some extremely nice churches around, and I always thought it would be incredible to be married in one.

 

[AHapka]

The second sentence refers to permission being given to celebrate the marriage in a parish different from the one of domicile, quasi-domicile, or place or residence. It is not concerned with giving permission to celebrate a wedding in the outdoors.

I think you are reading into it something it doesn’t say.

Personally, I don’t like an outdoor wedding. But the cannon says “elsewhere” and does not give any restriction whatsoever.

If a Bishop of the Church gives someone permission to marry in (insert name of place), whether we like it or not, it is valid and licit.

It is in Holy Obedience we obey our Bishops. If he approves (or does not approve) of a dispensation…we should accept it without complaint/

 

[AHapka]

In that case (civil law says a wedding cannot be outside or must be within certain hours), the Church would abide by that, since the Church does say that a wedding must also conform to civil law.

Of course, for this discussion, let’s leave out the extraordinary circumstances like time of persecution or war, or stranded on a desert island, etc.

Ooo…you didn’t leave out the cannonical allowance for secret marriages

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I think you are reading into it something it doesn’t say.

I’m not. If you respond to a post you need to put it in its context. The poster to whom I was responding cited a canon about getting married in one’s proper parish. It goes on to say that permission may be given to marry elsewhere, i.e. outside one’s proper parish. That canon is not about the physical location, e.g. church, community hall, beach, etc.

But the cannon says “elsewhere” and does not give any restriction whatsoever.

A canon does say that. The canon I was discussing does not.

If a Bishop of the Church gives someone permission to marry in (insert name of place), whether we like it or not, it is valid and licit.

Yes, it is valid and licit I agree. The permission cannot, however, be given by any bishop. It must be given by the person’s Ordinary.

 

[puzzleannie]

Can you tell me of any others so that I can look them up? I am interested in these outdoor chapels, this was the first one I heard of, and I really like them.

Thanks to everyone who answered!

there is probably at least one in every state, so a search for your area.
don’t know where Spring is but the Oblate School of theology in San Antonio has a small Lourdes grotto and Mass sometimes is celebrated outside there, don’t know if that is on a regular basis. The place to start, as always with any marriage issue, is with your parish priest. Better be prepared to show him why the setting you have chosen is to be preferred over your parish church.

 

[anp1215]

there is probably at least one in every state, so a search for your area.
don’t know where Spring is but the Oblate School of theology in San Antonio has a small Lourdes grotto and Mass sometimes is celebrated outside there, don’t know if that is on a regular basis. The place to start, as always with any marriage issue, is with your parish priest. Better be prepared to show him why the setting you have chosen is to be preferred over your parish church.

I did a search, none in my area =( Spring is near Houston.
As I said in the OP, I’m not getting married, just a hypothetical question.
Thanks to you and everyone else who answered!

 

[WhiteLeather]

Sacraments also belong to the parish and should be celebrated when the parish gathers: Sunday Masses. It would be perfectly legitimate to celebrate the nuptial vows at a Sunday Mass in the same way as one would baptize or confirm at a Sunday Mass. Sacraments are an action of the gathered faithful, and one does a significant disservice to the sacraments by celebrating them “privately” (Saturday morning baptisms, First Communions, etc.).

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Sacraments also belong to the parish and should be celebrated when the parish gathers: Sunday Masses. It would be perfectly legitimate to celebrate the nuptial vows at a Sunday Mass in the same way as one would baptize or confirm at a Sunday Mass. Sacraments are an action of the gathered faithful, and one does a significant disservice to the sacraments by celebrating them “privately” (Saturday morning baptisms, First Communions, etc.).

That’s not quite correct. On most Sundays the Nuptial Mass couldn’t be celebrated. On most Sundays the liturgical colour has to be that of the Sunday; the proper orations those of the Sunday; the readings those of the Sunday. In a lot of places the celebration of Holy Matrimony on a Sunday is not permitted. Holy Matrimony may never be said privately without the permission of the Bishop. Anyone may attend a wedding. Obviously invited guests are given priority and there will, of course, be a limit to how many people can fit in to a church. Having considered those factors anyone can enter a church and be present at a wedding. The Rite of Baptism says that Baptism can be celebrated during Mass but that shouldn’t happen too often.

 

[Natural_Family]

Forty four years ago, my parents were married on the lawn at her family’s farm. The closest Catholic Church was very tiny and wouldn’t even fit all the immediate family inside (Mum is one of ten and Dad is one of nine). The next closest Catholic Church (still in the same parish) was over 2 hours away. Their family had set up a chapel at the homestead where Mass was celebrated whenever a priest visited, so they carried everything outside for the wedding which was celebrated by the Parish Priest with the Bishop’s permission.

 

[Sarabande]

I don’t get it either. I have never in my life seriously desired to be married outside. It’s just way too risky. I don’t think I’ve ever even been to one, though I know that they are increasingly popular.

I’ve done a number of outdoor weddings as a musician. Most couples have back-up plans in case of bad weather. Those that don’t, in my opinion, are taking a big risk. It also isn’t nice to their guests, making them sit out in the weather and ruining their clothing, hair, makeup, etc. I also think hot, humid weather is bad weather as well. Many of the outdoor weddings I’ve done, though, have actually been very lovely (when the weather is nice).

In regards to outdoor Catholic weddings, I know they have been done, but it is not common. One outdoor wedding I did a couple of years ago, was a Catholic wedding and celebrated by a Franciscan priest. It was a mass done by a bay and was very beautiful. The weather was gorgeous… no humidity, blue skies, white clouds, green grass, slight breeze, a beautifully decorated altar. The groom was Catholic and the bride was not. The Franciscan was definitely not a “rent-a-priest” but actually came from one of the local parishes. I assume that they received permission due to the fact that the bride was not Catholic.

 

[bschre]

Gosh, ok, I get it “with the bishop’s approval”, but in my simple mind, “where ever two or more of you are gathered”…

 

[jneagle]

I think a dispensation from form would be required from the bishop for a Catholic to be married outside a Catholic church, whether outdoors or in a non-Catholic church if one party was not Catholic

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I think a dispensation from form would be required from the bishop for a Catholic to be married outside a Catholic church, whether outdoors or in a non-Catholic church if one party was not Catholic

In order for a Catholic to marry in a non-Catholic church or ecclesial community dispensation from canonical form would be required. Dispensation from canonical form might not be required for an outdoor wedding because it would still be possible to observe canonical form at such a wedding.

 

[remjsmom76]

I dont remember who told us this, if it was a priest of a layperson. But a marriage to be valid, it would have to be in the area of the altar. When the altars to the church are made they are made to contain or to have been blessed with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd relic of a saint. Something like that. I only remember this because one of our local churches had an exhibit of 1st, 2nd and 3rd relics…the 1st relics were very rare as they are actual items the saint touched and owned him/herself. like a garment, a brush, a book…things like that.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I dont remember who told us this, if it was a priest of a layperson. But a marriage to be valid, it would have to be in the area of the altar. When the altars to the church are made they are made to contain or to have been blessed with a 1st, 2nd or 3rd relic of a saint. Something like that. I only remember this because one of our local churches had an exhibit of 1st, 2nd and 3rd relics…the 1st relics were very rare as they are actual items the saint touched and owned him/herself. like a garment, a brush, a book…things like that.

Being at or in the vicinity of, or even being no where near, an altar, containing relics or not, has no effect on the validity, or lack of validity, of a marriage.