Irregular Indulgence?

[StSteverino]

I am a returning Catholic.

I actually rejected the Church and was baptized in an anti-Catholic, Scofield KJV Fundamentalist bible chapel.

I have confessed my sin, but I my priest said I would need to make a public statement sometime after my marriage was regularized.

I am in an irregular marital condition. My wife and I are in marriage counseling and she is moving slowly. She does not quite get why she should have to have her first marriage annulled or why we should be married in the Church. We would be in counseling even if I had not returned to the Church.

I am under the care of a priest who advises me to treat my marriage as if it were a Sacrament of the Church. I sometimes recieve the Most Holy Eucharist, but rarely, on feast days, after confession and with awe and trembling and avoiding scandal.

I have a profound sense of the Eucharist and practice regular Adoration.

When I do not take communion, I practice spiritual communion. During my morning offering I unite my heart to the BS and Mass everywhere.

Ok, so I am trying to amend my condition, but its a journey. I may not be doing everything strictly by the book.

I am mindful I may be in a state of Mortal Sin and my confessions may not be efficacious. I always tell the priest my situation.

That in mind, a very orthodox and careful priest told me to try to earn plenary indulgence anyway, because God will see that I want to unite with the sacraments.

I guess it could not hurt, right?

Familiaris Consortium is kind of murky, but the bottom line is we are to always hope and do the best we can.

Any opinions? I feel profound grace attending Mass and Adoration, but does it matter if I am in a deadly state?

Does anyone think I just should not recieve Holy Communion at all. I sometimes think the same thing. Does anyone think I should not go to confession?

 

[Joan_M]

StSteverino

It is wonderful that you are returning to the Church. You are, however, in an irregular marriage situation. Unless you and your wife are currently living in a “brother / sister” situation (no sexual contact at all) you cannot receive absolution in confession, and you cannot receive Holy Communion at all.

The reason is this - as long as your marriage is not valid in the Church, you are either living a live of fornication or of adultery, depending on whether one or other of you was married previously. When we confess our sins in confession, one of the requirements for absolution is a firm purpose of amendment. This requires the determination to not commit the confessed mortal sin again. In your case, the only way this can be done is either to separate, or to live as brother and sister. If you do not undertake to do this (and I completely understand that this may not be possible, since you say that your wife does not fully understand the Church’s requirements yet), the priest cannot give you absolution. Even if he pronounced the words of absolution, your sins would not be forgiven.

If you cannot receive absolution, you cannot receive Holy Communion.

So, yes, you should not go to confession and you should not receive Holy Communion until your marriage situation is rectified.

As long as this situation continues, you are not able, either, to receive a plenary indulgence, since the requirements for that includes confession within a short time period prior to or after the indulgenced works, and also Holy Communion.

Your only options right now are Spiritual Communions.

Do not let your situation depress you. God sees how you are trying to make the necessary changes. With prayers and patience, your wife will come to a clearer understanding, or, if not, will consent to doing all that is necessary because she loves you, even if she does not understand.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

May God bless you for what you are trying to do. Do not lose faith. There are many Canons on marriage. The most in the whole book of Canon Law. Have you discussed your situation with a Canon Lawyer? I would recommend it.

I pray that soon you will be in full harmony with the Church,
Deacon Tony SFO