Marriage - valid/sacramental/neither solution?

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Susansmum

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I’m posting this here, mostly because I am impatient and have discovered that some of the info I gave my priest was actually incorrect.
I have spoken to my priest, and he is getting back to me, but I am still confused that we wer both on the same page as to what I was asking.

I was baptised and confirmed in the Anglican (church of England) faith when I was 11, since then I pretty much fell away from the church, and got into new age stuff.
I met my hubby to be, who was baptised Mormon, (this is what I didn’t know whine I spoke to my priest, or else I did know and forgot) as I asked hubby later.
He was only baptised Mormon to satisfy his grandmother I believe…he pretty much grew up with not much exposure to church or religion at all. He lost a dear friend (not quite sister in law) who left behind a 7 month old when he was in his early 20’s and there was and has been a lot of anger towards God and he is a professed atheist.
We were married by a celebrant - not a priest and in an old church but one that was actually classed as a ‘wedding centre’ so a civil marriage in other words.

I lost my mother when I was pregnant with my first child suddenly and it made me question my life and such, long story short 2 or so years later I found myself completing RCIA and being received into the Catholic Church.
When I spoke to the priest at the time, he felt that since we weren’t catholic at the time of our marriage, it is still a valid but not sacramental marriage so I was ok. Neither of us were married before, and there was nothing to prevent us from being validly married.
So that was that.
Fast forward to now, and I was enquiring about how to go about getting the sacramental part done and if at all possible, and find out that we may not have a valid marriage?
My husband will never consent to a ceremony in the church in front of a priest, at the most he will sign a form.
My question is, do we actually have a valid marriage? If yes, Is it possible to make it sacramental without him actually doing anything other than signing a form, and if not valid is it possible to fix this without him doing anything other than signing a form?

My priest even mentioned something about us taking our vows and he wouldn’t even have to answer anything to do with the God part, but there is pretty much no way he will set foot in a church to have our marriage recognised by the church, he finds it offensive that he would need to…
 
The short answer is that your marriage is valid but not sacramental. Exchanging vows again will not make it sacramental because your husband was never baptized.

It is valid because you freely exchanged consent and were not bound by the Catholic form of marriage since neither of you had ever been Catholic when you were married.

If is not sacramental because your husband was never baptized. For a marriage to be sacramental, it must be between two baptized persons. Mormons are not Christians, and the Church has declared Mormon baptisms invalid.

For your marriage to be sacramental, your husband would have to be baptized Christian using a valid, trinitarian formula… at which point your marriage would automatically be sacramental.

As it is now, the Church calls your marriage a natural marriage, and it’s perfectly valid.
 
Benedictus is correct; if it had been invalid then you would want to investigate a radical sanation, but as it is, you have a valid natural marriage, and there is nothing more to be done, except evangelize and sanctify and pray for your husband.
 
Thankyou for the responses. It’s a relief to know its valid, but I’m saddened it will never be sacramental.
 
Thankyou for the responses. It’s a relief to know its valid, but I’m saddened it will never be sacramental.
You don’t know that. Anything is possible. About three weeks ago my non-Catholic husband expressed—to my pastor, no less—a desire to learn more about the Catholic faith. I’ve prayed for his conversion since before we were married, and while he hasn’t made a formal declaration of intent to become Catholic, this is a step in that direction nonetheless. Others have waited even longer for similar intentions to become reality! With God, all things are possible. Please don’t lose hope. You and your husband are in my prayers. :signofcross:

God bless! 🙂
 
Thankyou for the responses. It’s a relief to know its valid, but I’m saddened it will never be sacramental.
Don’t ever give up hope. Pray for your husband. Both my husbands were never baptized at first but later became Catholic’s. Especially when they saw how the kids were being raised. And I have always been thankful they did.The first one died at age 31, (accident) the second at age 47, (heart). I would suggest praying the Rosary every day. I will pray for your husband and I am sure many other will be praying with you too. God Bless, Memaw
 
Thankyou for the responses. It’s a relief to know its valid, but I’m saddened it will never be sacramental.
Pray for your husband. He says he will not consent to baptism now - but perhaps God will grant him the gift of faith, and might yet desire to become Catholic. Prayer works wonders even through natural means - witness St. Augustine.
 
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You know Susan, for my .50cents worth, it is my opinion that Jesus is Calling both yourself and your Husband for greater Callings and things through the re-newing of your marriage vows within the Catholic Church ie acknowledgement of your Catholic Marriage through Father.

There of course would be major Callings/reasons that would become clear to you both through His Sacrament and afterwards; if you could encourage your Husband to meet with Father; a greater Calling and a Special one at that for both of you (undoubtedly in my opinion) through my faith experiences.

Please Dear God our Heavenly Father and Dear Our Lady Mary Mother of Jesus could You please bathe Thy Children in Your Divine Love, Wisdom and Guidance, and bathing the Husband in Thy Divine Loving Sacraments Dear Lord now and for Eternity Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil Amen
 
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God’s Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do,
what I have to do.

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come.

Just as the Father sent me,
So I’m sending you out to be
My witnesses throughout the world,
The whole of the world.

Don’t worry what you have to say,
Don’t worry because on that day
God’s Spirit will speak in your heart,
Will speak in your heart.
 
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