If a married couple converts to Catholicism, do they need another wedding?

[BornInMarch]

I have a question on the Church’s stance on marriage, and as I often do I will explain it via a hypothetical.

Rahul and Priya are a couple. They had a marriage ceremony in keeping with their local tradition and have lived together as husband and wife for ten years. They were both lifelong Hindus, but recently they started learning about Catholicism from a French Missionary named Jean-Antoine Dubois. After thinking long and hard about it, they both decide to convert and to be baptized.

Do they need a priest to preform a Catholic Marriage Ceremony in order for them to be considered married in the eyes of the Church? Before they learned of Christianity, were they living in sin?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Do they need a priest to preform a Catholic Marriage Ceremony in order for them to be considered married in the eyes of the Church? Before they learned of Christianity, were they living in sin?

No and no. Before they became Christians, they had a valid natural marriage. When they were baptized, their marriage became a valid sacramental marriage.

 

[1ke]

Do they need a priest to preform a Catholic Marriage Ceremony in order for them to be considered married in the eyes of the Church?

No. why would they? Catholic marriage law applies to Catholics. Non Catholics marry validly when they marry each other.

Before they learned of Christianity, were they living in sin?

No. what makes you think they would be living in sin? Marriage is not confined to Catholics, or even Christians, and never has been.

 

[on_the_hill]

But it’s a good question, nonetheless.

I was thinking about it myself just a few days ago. Would a couple civilly married, who subsequently converts to Catholicism, need to be ‘convalidated’ or whatever?

I guess the answer is no. Which is good, IMO.

 

[1ke]

I was thinking about it myself just a few days ago. Would a couple civilly married, who subsequently converts to Catholicism, need to be ‘convalidated’ or whatever?

Convalidation makes an invalid marriage valid. Non-Catholics have valid marriages. So, it’s not possible to convalidate their marriage.

The “why” questions I asked above were not meant to be interpreted as the question not being a good question-- it was to try to understand what made the OP think that non-Catholic marriages are not valid so that we could further discuss that understanding of marriage and look at any underlying assumptions or beliefs about marriage.

 

[Jerusha]

However, it would be sweet for them to reaffirm their vows before a priest.

 

[on_the_hill]

Convalidation makes an invalid marriage valid. Non-Catholics have valid marriages. So, it’s not possible to convalidate their marriage.

The “why” questions I asked above were not meant to be interpreted as the question not being a good question-- it was to try to understand what made the OP think that non-Catholic marriages are not valid so that we could further discuss that understanding of marriage and look at any underlying assumptions or beliefs about marriage.

I see.

I always thought convalidation meant that a non-Catholic marriage (any marriage not performed in the Church) would be made sacramental in the Church.

I guess I learned something from someone else’s question.

 

[1ke]

I always thought convalidation meant that a non-Catholic marriage (any marriage not performed in the Church) would be made sacramental in the Church.

Convalidation applies to Catholics, not non-Catholics. Catholics in invalid marriages.

Baptism makes a marriage sacramental. A valid marriage between two any two baptized people is a sacrament (not just Catholics). If a marriage involves one or both unbaptized parties, it’s a natural valid marriage. If both parties to that natural marriage become baptized, their marriage becomes a sacramental marriage.

 

[veilofveronica]

Once they are baptized, a priest can do a reaffirmation of their vows and they can have their marriage “blessed” so that it is a sacramental one.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Once they are baptized, a priest can do a reaffirmation of their vows and they can have their marriage “blessed” so that it is a sacramental one.

No. To repeat correct information from above, if they were already in a valid natural marriage, their baptisms cause it to become sacramental with no other action needed.

I suppose they can request a *“blessing” *from a priest if they like, but there is no *so that it is *about it – Their natural marriage is already become sacramental.

It is important to note, however, this is all true *if *they have a valid natural marriage. During their catechesis, there should be inquiry made to be sure that they are validly married. (To be assured, for instance, that neither has a living spouse from a previous marriage, nor any other impediment to their marriage)

tee

 

[Reuben_J]

I have a question on the Church’s stance on marriage, and as I often do I will explain it via a hypothetical.

Rahul and Priya are a couple. They had a marriage ceremony in keeping with their local tradition and have lived together as husband and wife for ten years. They were both lifelong Hindus, but recently they started learning about Catholicism from a French Missionary named Jean-Antoine Dubois. After thinking long and hard about it, they both decide to convert and to be baptized.

Do they need a priest to preform a Catholic Marriage Ceremony in order for them to be considered married in the eyes of the Church? Before they learned of Christianity, were they living in sin?

Now that they are both baptized, they can ask the priest to bless their marriage and their children. I have seen this blessing so often for couples, many couples, who become Catholics and the priests were just glad to bless their marriage / family. They were usually done in a mass, celebrated especially for them.

 

[1ke]

Once they are baptized, a priest can do a reaffirmation of their vows and they can have their marriage “blessed” so that it is a sacramental one.

“To have the marriage blessed” is a colloquialism for convalidation. It’s the same thing.

The couple cannot convalidate an already valid marriage. The Church does not “bless” a marriage to make it sacramental. Baptism does that.

What a couple *could *do is ask for the nuptial blessing, since they have not had it before. The nuptial blessing is a prayer over the couple (well, technically the bride). It is NOT a convalidation. It does not make a marriage valid or have any other canonical r sacramental effect. It is simply a marital blessing prayer-- like the many other blessing prayers the church has. It can only be given once.

 

[dans0622]

Once they are baptized, a priest can do a reaffirmation of their vows and they can have their marriage “blessed” so that it is a sacramental one.

Hello,

Hmm… And then, if the marriage fails and a Party seeks a declaration of nullity, canon lawyers at the tribunal can ring their hands about the juridical nature of such a “reaffirmation of vows.”

Dan

P.S. As rightly noted by our resident not-a-canon-lawyer, such a ceremony would not make the marriage sacramental.

 

[babochka]

Convalidation makes an invalid marriage valid. Non-Catholics have valid marriages. So, it’s not possible to convalidate their marriage.

The “why” questions I asked above were not meant to be interpreted as the question not being a good question-- it was to try to understand what made the OP think that non-Catholic marriages are not valid so that we could further discuss that understanding of marriage and look at any underlying assumptions or beliefs about marriage.

While marriages between non-Catholics are valid, marriages between unmarried persons are not sacramental. I think that’s what brought about the question, not the validity of the marriage. I think the issue of the sacramentality of the marriage has been answered, but this is what I understood the question to be.

 

[tee_eff_em]

**NB: **ITYM:

While marriages between non-Catholics are valid, marriages between -]unmarried/-]

unbaptized

persons are not sacramental. I think that’s what brought about the question, not the validity of the marriage.

I think the issue of the sacramentality of the marriage has been answered, but this is what I understood the question to be.

I expect you are correct about the question. But at least one poster has provided misinformation implying that a marriage having been performed among non-Catholic (indeed, non-baptized) persons requires a *“blessing” *to become “sacramental”, which is not my understanding of the Church’s teaching.

tee
It is at this point that I usually begin disclaiming: I Am Not A Canon Lawyer

 

[1ke]

While marriages between non-Catholics are valid, marriages between unmarried persons are not sacramental. I think that’s what brought about the question, not the validity of the marriage. I think the issue of the sacramentality of the marriage has been answered, but this is what I understood the question to be.

I didn’t read the question that way, as it asked if blessing was needed in order for the couple to be married at all in the eyes of the church, and whether they were “living in sin” as non-Catholics.

That speaks to validity. Perhaps some people think validity and sacramentality are the same thing, so this is an opportunity to distinguish between the two.

 

[Reuben_J]

Regardless of what the canon lawyer says, I would say, if the couple are so dispose, that they ask a priest to bless their marriage / family.

By baptism, they enter into a new (Christian ) life. In the same token, Christian marriage would require a different outlook and life as compared to Hinduism or other religions.

Marriage is a very important thing. Though beautiful it is not always a bed of roses. To enter into a new life with a new outlook and thus challenges, it is good for them to ask a priest to bless theur marriage as they embark on their Christian marriage vows.

If by the blessing it makes their marriage Sacramental, all the better. Catholicism has many trappings, it is good to make use of whatever that is available because a blessing will do no harm to them, certainly.

If I am a sponsor to this couple, that I would bring them to, which I had done to countless others.

 

[Phemie]

Regardless of what the canon lawyer says, I would say, if the couple are so dispose, that they ask a priest to bless their marriage / family.

By baptism, they enter into a new (Christian ) life. In the same token, Christian marriage would require a different outlook and life as compared to Hinduism or other religions.

Marriage is a very important thing. Though beautiful it is not always a bed of roses. To enter into a new life with a new outlook and thus challenges, it is good for them to ask a priest to bless their marriage as they embark on their Christian marriage vows.

**If by the blessing it makes their marriage Sacramental, all the better. **Catholicism has many trappings, it is good to make use of whatever that is available because a blessing will do no harm to them, certainly.

If I am a sponsor to this couple, that I would bring them to, which I had done to countless others.

Again, Baptism is what makes a marriage sacramental, not a blessing.

Their marriage is presumed valid. Once they are baptized it immediately becomes sacramental. Nothing more than Baptism is needed for that to happen.

As 1ke said, they could request the Nuptial Blessing but that’s just a blessing and has no impact on the validity or sacramental status of the marriage.

 

[Reuben_J]

Again, Baptism is what makes a marriage sacramental, not a blessing.

Their marriage is presumed valid. Once they are baptized it immediately becomes sacramental. Nothing more than Baptism is needed for that to happen.

As 1ke said, they could request the Nuptial Blessing but that’s just a blessing and has no impact on the validity or sacramental status of the marriage.

So what’s new, you’re just repeating what I said, which didn’t change the post.

Well, ask for the blessing then. There’s much more to Christian marriage, more so for converts.

Blessing is a grace bestowed on the couple concerned. It may not change the marraige status, but in Catholicism we can have our marriage blessed and it is certainly not for the fun of it.

Maybe for you, naybe. In my place, we hold marriages seriously and endeavour them to prosper in our lives, and asking priests to bless us is not a strange thing to do.