Mixed Marriage Ceremony

[MAMREILLY]

A woman that works for me who is Catholic is planning to marry a non-Catholic. She is planning on getting married in the Church, but was told that since her husband-to-be in non-Catholic that there would be no Liturgy of the Eucharist as a part of the ceremony. She and I are confused by this because I didn’t think that the presence of non-Catholics at a wedding would preclude the celebration of the Eucharist.

Is this something that is at the discretion of the pastor? Where would we find this in Canon Law/GIRM/etc. to either support or refute this?

Yours in Christ,

Michael

 

[SeekerJen]

A woman that works for me who is Catholic is planning to marry a non-Catholic. She is planning on getting married in the Church, but was told that since her husband-to-be in non-Catholic that there would be no Liturgy of the Eucharist as a part of the ceremony. She and I are confused by this because I didn’t think that the presence of non-Catholics at a wedding would preclude the celebration of the Eucharist.

Is this something that is at the discretion of the pastor? Where would we find this in Canon Law/GIRM/etc. to either support or refute this?

Yours in Christ,

Michael

It doesn’t necessarily preclude it, but since the sacrament of marriage is one of unity that the couple administers to each other, often the priest will encourage a Nuptial Scripture Service instead of the Mass when one spouse-to-be is non-Catholic. I believe the intent is to highlight the unifying aspects of the two people’s faiths, and to not exclude one spouse (and probably at least half of the congregation) from half of the wedding. And as the Eucharist is not required for a valid and licit Sacrament of Marriage to occur, there’s no objection from Canon Law.

My Protestant husband and I had a Scripture Service. It was very beautiful and reverent, and I think his family was pleasantly surprised to not feel alienated. Many of the prayers were either identical or very similar to what they were used to, and the Scripture readings were only slightly different (due to different translations).

Believe me, I’ve researched this topic. I had a few very rude and misinformed people try and tell me that my marriage was invalid and/or illicit because it did not take place in a full Mass. My research informed me that this was indeed completely false.

 

[MAMREILLY]

I have never heard of a Nuptial Scripture Service, but my wife and I are cradle Catholics and I guess would never have had a need to have a discussion as to whether our wedding ceremony would include a Mass.

If the woman wanted to have her wedding ceremony include the celebration of the Mass, would it be at the discretion of the pastor to deny that?

Can you tell me the sources for your research?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

A woman that works for me who is Catholic is planning to marry a non-Catholic. She is planning on getting married in the Church, but was told that since her husband-to-be in non-Catholic that there would be no Liturgy of the Eucharist as a part of the ceremony. She and I are confused by this because I didn’t think that the presence of non-Catholics at a wedding would preclude the celebration of the Eucharist.

Is this something that is at the discretion of the pastor? Where would we find this in Canon Law/GIRM/etc. to either support or refute this?

Yours in Christ,

Michael

No nothing has changed. When a Catholic and non-Catholic Christian celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage there is an idea that because of the spouse being non-Catholic. That it might be best if the Marriage is celebrated outside of Mass, so as to not exclude the non-Catholic spouse and guests from Holy Communion. It is however totally the Catholic spouse who makes that decision. If the Catholic wants the Marriage within the Mass he or she has the right to do so. The pastor needs to be reminded that he has no authority to dictate how the Marriage will be celebrated, that is completely the decision of the Catholic spouse.

 

[SeekerJen]

I have never heard of a Nuptial Scripture Service, but my wife and I are cradle Catholics and I guess would never have had a need to have a discussion as to whether our wedding ceremony would include a Mass.

If the woman wanted to have her wedding ceremony include the celebration of the Mass, would it be at the discretion of the pastor to deny that?

Can you tell me the sources for your research?

It’s been about three years since I last did my digging, but let’s see…besides my pastor, I consulted my Catechism, the website of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, and sites like EWTN that have official Church document libraries. That said, I think the woman would (or should) still be able to have a Mass if she wanted it and her spouse-to-be had no objections.

And yes, my marriage is still valid and licit.

 

[cameron_lansing]

…I think the woman would (or should) still be able to have a Mass if she wanted it and her spouse-to-be had no objections.

If the Catholic wants the Marriage within the Mass he or she has the right to do so. The pastor needs to be reminded that he has no authority to dictate how the Marriage will be celebrated, that is completely the decision of the Catholic spouse.

The pastor and the Catholic spouse can certainly propose a Mass. The decision is somewhat beyond their individual powers of authority though.

On the basis of canon 2* we must consult the introduction to the Rite of Marriage, n. 8 as the appropriate liturgical law. It indicates that the regulations for the rite of marriage outside Mass are to observed in the marriage of a Catholic to another baptized person.

However, the Rite continues by saying that, if suitable, the local ordinary may give permission for the marriage of a Catholic and another baptized person to be celebrated within Mass, and that, according to general law, communion is not given to the non Catholic.

*canon 2: For the most part the Code does not define the rites which must be observed in celebrating liturgical actions. Therefore, liturgical laws in force until now retain their force unless one of them is contrary to the canons of the Code.