Is My Marriage A Sacrament?

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My wife is in R.C.I.A. and is not baptized. We were validly married in the church many years ago. I was under the assumption all this time that the moment my wife is baptized our marriage becomes sacramental. My priest says no. Since I am baptized we already have a sacramental marriage and when she is baptized it more like a fuller sense of the sacrament. I know I read many times this isn’t so. He said if I find something that says he’s wrong feel free to let him see it. Is there anything in the catechism or something I can show him, or maybe I’m wrong. Thanks.
 
My wife is in R.C.I.A. and is not baptized. We were validly married in the church many years ago. I was under the assumption all this time that the moment my wife is baptized our marriage becomes sacramental. My priest says no. Since I am baptized we already have a sacramental marriage and when she is baptized it more like a fuller sense of the sacrament. I know I read many times this isn’t so. He said if I find something that says he’s wrong feel free to let him see it. Is there anything in the catechism or something I can show him, or maybe I’m wrong. Thanks.
If you got a dispensation from the Bishop to marry an unbaptized person, then you are okay. Your priest is right.
 
This was answered
HERE
Michelle Arnold Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers Apologist
Yes. Baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments and both parties must be validly baptized in order to receive the sacrament of matrimony. Once your wife was baptized, your marriage to her became sacramental.
 
According to MOUSY’S answer we don’t have a sacramental marriage until she’s baptized. Any documentation?
 
According to MOUSY’S answer we don’t have a sacramental marriage until she’s baptized. Any documentation?
A marriage either involves the sacrament of matrimony or it does not.

Law and doctrine clearly distinguish between the marriages in which both parties are baptized and those in which at least one party is not.

This is so basic that the USCCB marriage faq, for example, does not even bother to cite sources on that point. See usccb.org/laity/marriage/marriagefaqs.shtml

However, the established doctrine can be illustrated by just a few canons. It would be laborious and needless to go further.

The apologist had already alluded to the fact that baptism is the gate to the sacraments (c. 849). One cannot validly receive other sacraments without baptism. It is a gate that must be passed through first. This is a rather long standing fundamental notion in sacramental theology.

This is made very clear in **canon 842 §1: A person who has not received baptism cannot be validly admitted to the other sacraments. **

However, when both are baptized, a valid marriage is a sacrament by necessity.

Canon 1055 §1. The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, which is ordered by its nature toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized. §2. For this reason, a valid matrimonial contract cannot exist between the baptized without it being by that fact a sacrament.

Because of this, once your non baptized spouse in your valid marriage becomes baptized, your marriage becomes sacramental.
 
My wife is in R.C.I.A. and is not baptized. We were validly married in the church many years ago. I was under the assumption all this time that the moment my wife is baptized our marriage becomes sacramental. My priest says no. Since I am baptized we already have a sacramental marriage and when she is baptized it more like a fuller sense of the sacrament. I know I read many times this isn’t so. He said if I find something that says he’s wrong feel free to let him see it. Is there anything in the catechism or something I can show him, or maybe I’m wrong. Thanks.
A Sacramental Marriage is between two validly Married and Validly Baptized persons. A Marriage between a Baptized person and a non-Baptized person is not a Sacrament but can be a valid Marriage. At the moment your wife is Baptized your Marriage to each other if a valid Marriage to begin with will become a Sacramental Marriage. You should personally consider if you received the required Dispensation at the time of your Marriage, just to insure that everything is in order for yourself.
 
it would be worthwhile bringing this thread to the notice of your priest and reviewing what he actually meant to tell you. could it be he meant to assure you that your marriage is valid and that nothing more needs to be done before reception into the Church?
 
Shaka,

Why does it matter? Are you going to treat her any different between now and the time she gets baptized?

God chooses to bind Himself to the Sacraments does not mean God is bound by the Sacraments. God will grant His grace to those He will grant it too. Are you saying you have not experienced God’s grace in your marital life?

Don’t sweat it. Love your wife more every day and God’s graces will fill, even overflow, your life. Don’t get caught up in the debates over rules in your head or on here.

You are married; your wife is joining the Church – Alleluia!

It’s time to sing praises and give thanks.
My wife is in R.C.I.A. and is not baptized. We were validly married in the church many years ago. I was under the assumption all this time that the moment my wife is baptized our marriage becomes sacramental. My priest says no. Since I am baptized we already have a sacramental marriage and when she is baptized it more like a fuller sense of the sacrament. I know I read many times this isn’t so. He said if I find something that says he’s wrong feel free to let him see it. Is there anything in the catechism or something I can show him, or maybe I’m wrong. Thanks.
 
Shaka,

Why does it matter? Are you going to treat her any different between now and the time she gets baptized?..No I won’t treat her any different. I’m asking more in a sense of wanting to know my faith. When you learn something for years and then you’re told something different you’d like to know the right answer. I even told him I need to find out not to prove him wrong, but to know what the right answer is.
 
Why would you ask if the OP would treat his wife any different, if he did I bet it would be for the better, not the worse.

I can see where the OP is excited to find out weather his marriage will be sacramental once his wife is baptized.

If you got dispensation and were married in the church to a non-baptized person you have a valid marriage, however it was not a sacramental marriage.

Just think, once your wife is baptised you will have something else to celebrate! I would think that it would strengthen your marriage bond, that is a good thing!
 
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ljprevo:
Why would you ask if the OP would treat his wife any different …
To show the absurdity of it.
 
To show the absurdity of it.
I am sorry, but I don’t think the question is absurd at all. The OP wants to know the truth. If any I think he would be joyous that his marriage will be stronger.
 
Don’t be sorry, it’s your view. Let’s look at this for a minute. The OP said he was married in the Church, a valid marriage in the Church many years ago. He is looking at the sacramentality of his marriage, which he thinks it is not until the wife is baptized (which is happening soon, thanks be to God). He has received conflicting information about that point.

To which I ask, “What difference does it make?” It doesn’t make any difference.

Is there going to be a difference in their relationship? No. Will he treat her any different? No. Will the grace of God being affected on them be different? No.

The OP wishes to know the truth. We all do. But what difference does our knowing really make? Does reality change because of our knowing or not knowing?

Will the reality of their marriage change because the wife is baptized? Will it change if the marriage is already sacramental or if it becomes sacramental when she is baptized?

I think as a people we get too wrapped up in stuff and forget the import of life because of it. Not accusing, just suggesting.
I am sorry, but I don’t think the question is absurd at all. The OP wants to know the truth. If any I think he would be joyous that his marriage will be stronger.
 
If you got a dispensation from the Bishop to marry an unbaptized person, then you are okay. Your priest is right.
I misread the OP’s question as I thought he meant valid, not sacramental. Nonetheless, in the eyes of the Church, you are validly married. Your wife is already on her way towards the Church. Breathe easy and thank God that the Holy Spirit has enlightened her to the True Faith.
 
Will the grace of God being affected on them be different? No…I don’t know if I agree with this statement. We receive grace through the sacraments. If I don’t have a sacramental marriage now, but will when she’s baptized don’t we receive grace when this happens.
 
What do you think will be different? How will it manifest itself? Or how do you think it might manifest itself? (I think it will manifest itself by your relationship growing deeply spiritually, but that will take time of course.)

I think everyone receives grace all the time, we just don’t realize it or recognize it. I think that as a people if we did realize the mystery of life more, this side of life would be changed for the better rather dramatically.

I agree that we do receive grace through the sacraments, but that is not the only avenue God uses to dispense his grace. You are already a practicing Catholic and are receiving sacramental graces through the Eucharist and regular confession. I believe that you are already receiving grace through your marriage. Does that make it “officially sacramental” as per whatever rule we can look at? I don’t know. But then again I don’t think it matters because your life is grace filled already. May you have even MORE graces in the New Year.
Will the grace of God being affected on them be different? No…I don’t know if I agree with this statement. We receive grace through the sacraments. If I don’t have a sacramental marriage now, but will when she’s baptized don’t we receive grace when this happens.
 
Will the grace of God being affected on them be different? No…I don’t know if I agree with this statement. We receive grace through the sacraments. If I don’t have a sacramental marriage now, but will when she’s baptized don’t we receive grace when this happens.
YES, You both will receive the Sacramental Grace from the Sacrament of Marriage when she is Baptized. If I wre you I would also plan to go to Confession just before the Easter Vigil so that your soul would be ready to receive all the Grace available from the Sacrament…
 
YES, You both will receive the Sacramental Grace from the Sacrament of Marriage when she is Baptized. If I wre you I would also plan to go to Confession just before the Easter Vigil so that your soul would be ready to receive all the Grace available from the Sacrament…
I would like to expound on that and not just goto confession, I recommend going to a “General Confession”
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Br. Rich SFO forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cad/viewpost.gif
YES, You both will receive the Sacramental Grace from the Sacrament of Marriage when she is Baptized. If I wre you I would also plan to go to Confession just before the Easter Vigil so that your soul would be ready to receive all the Grace available from the Sacrament…
I would like to expound on that and not just goto confession, I recommend going to a “General Confession”
Let met add a third plea. Please do go to confession, a real good, thorough general confession if possible.This will be the best thing you could do for your marriage and your soul.

This is so exciting! A valid marriage becomes a sacramental one. Thanks be to God!
 
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