Do I need to get remarried?

[crobynb]

I was reading another post that was talking about getting a convalidation of marriage through the Church and also about what marriages are/aren’t recognized by the Church. So . . . . my husband and I were married in December 2001 in a Methodist service. We then converted through RCIA 2002/2003. Since we converted together and both of us had been baptized - is our marriage recognized? Our priest through RCIA had never mentioned we needed to re-do our ceremony nor has our current priest alluded to that fact. Just a little something that I was wondering. I would appreciate info and opinions. Thanks!! Happy Independence Day fellow Americans.

 

[puzzleannie]

crobynb:

I So . . . . my husband and I were married in December 2001 in a Methodist service. We then converted through RCIA 2002/2003. Since we converted together and both of us had been baptized - is our marriage recognized?.

if neither of you was Catholic when you were married (and therefore not bound by church laws), assuming you were both free to marry (no divorce etc.) then your marriage is presumed valid unless proven otherwise. You should have been asked about your marital status in your first inteview with the priest or deacon, and if there was any problem it would have been mentioned.

 

[cargopilot]

No, you do not need a convalidation.

You both converted after a Methodist marriage. Your marriage is recognized by the Church, as is.

 

[cargopilot]

puzzleannie:

if neither of you was Catholic when you were married (and therefore not bound by church laws), assuming you were both free to marry (no divorce etc.) then your marriage is presumed valid unless proven otherwise. You should have been asked about your marital status in your first inteview with the priest or deacon, and if there was any problem it would have been mentioned.

Exactly. You included all the details I should’ve in my post.

 

[crobynb]

We were high school sweethearts, no previous marriage or children or anything like that. It is still just the two of us now . . . but hopefully not for long! Baby Fever!!!

Anyways - so I guess we were okay and that is why it was never brought up as an issue. Thanks for your help!!

 

[cargopilot]

Hey puzzleannie,

Doesn’t the marriage mentioned ‘automatically’ become Sacramental when they converted? Wouldn’t it also become a Sacramental marriage if just one of them converted?

At what point in their conversion process does it become Sacramental?

Just curious.

Thanx.

 

[tee_eff_em]

cargopilot:

Doesn’t the marriage mentioned ‘automatically’ become Sacramental when they converted? Wouldn’t it also become a Sacramental marriage if just one of them converted?

At what point in their conversion process does it become Sacramental?

(I’m not puzzleannie, but: )

As I understand it, they both having been baptized and neither bound by canonical form, their marriage has been sacramental from its very beginning.

Can. 1055 §2 Consequently, a valid marriage contract cannot exist between baptised persons without its being by that very fact a sacrament.

tee