Marriage Valid?

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sealabeag

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Hi,
I’m pretty sure I already know that the answer to my following question is “yes”, but I just wanted to make sure…
I was at a wedding recently and the two people getting married were from different countries so they spoke the marriage vows in their spouse’s language. However the bride minced the words and didn’t say it properly, omitting a few words, I think including “in sickness” and maybe more.
Obviously here intention was there, but would this in any way invalidate the marriage?
Again, I don’t think it would, just curious…

Secondly, how badly would a priest have to mess up the words of consecration at Mass for it to be invalid? I’ve been at numerous Masses where some priests take liberties with the liturgy and I’ve always wondered that. For example, one priest as far as I could see, left out this prayer:
"Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life. "

Thanks.
 
Correct. I usually pray it silently and in Latin. I offer Mass in multiple languages each week, so it’s easier to just memorize it in one.

-Fr ACEGC
 
sealabeag said:
Hi,
I’m pretty sure I already know that the answer to my following question is “yes”, but I just wanted to make sure…
I was at a wedding recently and the two people getting married were from different countries so they spoke the marriage vows in their spouse’s language. However the bride minced the words and didn’t say it properly, omitting a few words, I think including “in sickness” and maybe more.
Obviously here intention was there, but would this in any way invalidate the marriage?
Again, I don’t think it would, just curious…
…

Thanks.
Click to expand...
What is essential for a valid marriage is that the bride and groom express their consent to marriage, as the Church defines Christian marriage.

That can happen in different ways.

The bride and groom need not actually speak the wedding vows themselves. We all know that it’s typical for the priest to speak the actual words, and the bride & groom respond with “I do.”

It seems obvious that the bride intended to repeat the words but simply made a mistake of language in not doing so. In other words, she gave her consent to what the priest spoke, even though she didn’t say the words herself.

If one spouse intentionally and deliberately leaves out something essential to the marriage covenant, then that might call into question the validity of the ceremony. For example, if a bride leaves out “till death do us part” I would repeat that part again, thinking it was a mistake. If a spouse were to outright insist on omitting those words, I would stop the ceremony right then and there.

Side note: this is why, pastorally speaking, I don’t use the form “repeat after me” The couple is nervous enough. I always use the form where the couple responds simply “I do.” It neatly avoids exactly this kind of situation.
 
FrDavid96 said:
Side note: this is why, pastorally speaking, I don’t use the form “repeat after me”
Click to expand...
Years ago as an altar boy at a wedding, with our most conservative and formal priest, the best man actually convinced him to make the bride repeat her vows!

He came to the sacristy before hand and suggested it, and I thought the priest said no, but when we got to that point, he did!

What was that movie (british?) with the nervous young priest who concluded the trinity with “the Holy Spigot” . . . 🤣

hawk
 
sealabeag said:
Secondly, how badly would a priest have to mess up the words of consecration at Mass for it to be invalid? I’ve been at numerous Masses where some priests take liberties with the liturgy and I’ve always wondered that. For example, one priest as far as I could see, left out this prayer:
"Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life. "
Click to expand...
These words aren’t part of the consecration - they’re part of the offertory. As others have said they can be said in a low voice (not the same as silently). You’re thinking of the words of institution:

Take this all of you and eat of it, for this is my body which will be give up for you
Take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in memory of me.

IIRC there’s not bright line test for how much of a departure is too much but the scope is extremely narrow - so much so that priests will often say these words again from the beginning if they slip up.
 
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