New Advent Wedding

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AndyF

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I don’t know how to break this to my wife. We were married in1971 on Dec 9 in a Catholic cathedral in a proper ceremony.

Just discovered that Matrimonial masses are invalid within Advent.

Yikes!!! :eek:

I just had a time to reflect and take advantage of the edit button here.

Actually, a re-wedding my kids would enjoy.:dancing:, so now finally I can get a repayment for the cost of all the diapers!!!.👍

AndyF
 
AndyF said:
Just discovered that Matrimonial masses are invalid within Advent.
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Where did you discover this? (honestly curious :confused: )

I can’t find any info on this (okay, only a basic internet search involved)… but I did find links that say “A priest must clear weddings during Lent or Advent”…
No official documents or anything, though…

Curious where you read that?🙂
 
Hi AndyF,

There is an article on newadvent.org about the Nuptial Mass - it’s at www.newadvent.org/cathen/10005a.htm

It does mention that the Nuptial Mass shouldn’t be celebrated during Advent; but it says that if a Marriage ceremony does take place during this time, it should be without music and other solemnities. Perhaps your wedding had some of these prescribed restrictions on weddings during Advent, and so it would be valid?

At any rate, it is hard to believe that the ‘Powers that be’ of a Cathedral Church would not have been aware of the proper guidelines for marriage ceremonies. If the Cathedral authorities and yourself were genuinely unaware of these guidlines, maybe the ceremony could be given validity…

Also, is there any chance that tighter restrictions on Nuptial Masses during Advent were imposed post December 9, 1971?

…Hope it all works out for you!
 
It is my understanding that the only time the Sacrament of Matrimony cannot be administered is during Holy Week. My wedding took place one week after Easter for that very reason. That means our anniversary often falls during Lent.
Imagine the scheduling difficulty of a Christmas Eve wedding.
 
I’ve aways heard that all sacrament celebrations (wedding, baptism, confirmation) are ***discouraged ***during Advent and Lent since they are penitential seasons. But that has nothing to do with validity.
 
AndyF said:
I don’t know how to break this to my wife. We were married in1971 on Dec 9 in a Catholic cathedral in a proper ceremony.

Just discovered that Matrimonial masses are invalid within Advent.
Click to expand...
Don’t jump the gun there, Andy. Just where did you come by this information?
 
NPC said:
Also, is there any chance that tighter restrictions on Nuptial Masses during Advent were imposed post December 9, 1971?

…Hope it all works out for you!
Click to expand...
This was my first thought.

Actually my wife and I have been having a lot of fun sparring with each other on what we will do now in our newly found freedom. 🙂 Fact is both of us would be lost.

AndyF
 
Further :

A Catechism for Enquirers, Rev. Joseph Malloy CSP

q. What are the laws of the Church about matrimony?

1/Catholics should not marry non-Catholics.
2/They may not marry very near relatives,…etc.
3/It is forbidden to have a nuptial mass and blessing during Advent and Lent.
(Author’s Note: The nuptial mass is the special mass said at weddings. Advent is the four weeks preceding Christmas. Lent is the forty days preceding Easter.)

There was a mass. At preparation, I don’t recall being told there was anything different about our wedding.

It could be the priest could have withheld all this for our benefit and simply chalked it up to a technicality, perhaps we were granted a dispensation because of Parish overbooking problems for that year. I do know we had difficulty in getting a slot for that year. You more knowledgable people would know if this is probable.

AndyF
 
Thanks all for your interest and help.!!!🙂

My apology if I didn’t answer you directly. I answered in a combined post.

Les see now, Oh, yeah can’t forget to take out the garbage, bosses orders.:bowdown:

Signed,

hopelessly married.🤷
 
Having done a bit more research on Advent Weddings, I don’t think you have cause to be worried about the validity of your Marriage. It seems to me that most parishes I have come across on the internet say that they discourage Advent weddings since the themes of Marriage detract from the themes of Anticipation and Penitance which are central to the Advent season. Some churches which allow weddings during Advent request that the Wedding-party be smaller and less ‘showy’ than normal, or that the church isn’t overdecorated with flowers - so the Sacrament of Marriage is received, but not celebrated with as much ceremony as it would be outside the penitential seasons.

I would be quite sure that you are, in fact, Married 🙂 but it would be worth looking further into this topic so as we can have a definitive answer - I browsed quickly on the Vatican website through the Catechism and Code of Canon Law, and didn’t see anything forbidding Advent weddings, but, as always, I am happy to be corrected by someone more informed than I. Also, that book by Rev Malloy was first published in 1927 (though I expect you have a newer edition!), so parts may be somewhat outdated since Vatican II…
 
this entire article in the Catholic Encyclopedia refers to a form of nuptial Mass under the old TLM rite that was changed in the 60s when the liturgical changes and NO were introduced, and to canon law that is no longer in effect, and was not in effect in 1971, so does not refer to your marriage. you are aware that the Catholic Encyclopedia dates are around 1914 and anything that refers to liturgy or canon law is out of date. in any case the discipline did not forbid weddings, only solemn nuptial Masses, as described in the article ( hey maybe the restoration of EF will bring them back, I remember one, and it was a sight to see). it was still possible to marry in advent or lent, although discouraged, even during a Mass, but it would not have been the solemn nuptial Mass

nice attempt though, you should get some points for trying
 
AndyF said:
Further :

A Catechism for Enquirers, Rev. Joseph Malloy CSP

q. What are the laws of the Church about matrimony?

1/Catholics should not marry non-Catholics.
2/They may not marry very near relatives,…etc.
3/It is forbidden to have a nuptial mass and blessing during Advent and Lent.
(Author’s Note: The nuptial mass is the special mass said at weddings. Advent is the four weeks preceding Christmas. Lent is the forty days preceding Easter.)

There was a mass. At preparation, I don’t recall being told there was anything different about our wedding.

It could be the priest could have withheld all this for our benefit and simply chalked it up to a technicality, perhaps we were granted a dispensation because of Parish overbooking problems for that year. I do know we had difficulty in getting a slot for that year. You more knowledgable people would know if this is probable.

AndyF
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At worst, it was illicit but not invalid. To be invalid it would have to be deficient in one of the three elements: matter, form, or intent. And even then the quote you cite is confusing. It sounds like the Nuptual Mass may be forbidden in Advent but says nothing about the actual Sacrament - the exchange of vows.

So I think you are “stuck”. Cancel the bachelor party! 😃 😃 😃
 
Sorry, but you are married and always have been.

A marriage does not require a valid Mass nor any Mass at all. All that is required ceremonially is a priest (or deacon), the bride and groom, at least two other witnesses, and the valid vows.

Nice try:D

Happy 36th anniversary.
 
NPC said:
Having done a bit more research on Advent Weddings, I don’t think you have cause to be worried about the validity of your Marriage. It seems to me that most parishes I have come across on the internet say that they discourage Advent weddings since the themes of Marriage detract from the themes of Anticipation and Penitance which are central to the Advent season. Some churches which allow weddings during Advent request that the Wedding-party be smaller and less ‘showy’ than normal, or that the church isn’t overdecorated with flowers - so the Sacrament of Marriage is received, but not celebrated with as much ceremony as it would be outside the penitential seasons.
Click to expand...
There are two weddings in our parish next week – neither of them will have a Mass, let alone a nuptial Mass, but the one on Saturday has a maid of honor, best man, 3 bridesmaids & 3 groomsmen. Whatever happened to the days when the only people in the wedding party were the bride, the groom and the two fathers?
 
AndyF said:
Further :

A Catechism for Enquirers, Rev. Joseph Malloy CSP

q. What are the laws of the Church about matrimony?

1/Catholics should not marry non-Catholics.
2/They may not marry very near relatives,…etc.
3/It is forbidden to have a nuptial mass and blessing during Advent and Lent.
(Author’s Note: The nuptial mass is the special mass said at weddings. Advent is the four weeks preceding Christmas. Lent is the forty days preceding Easter.)
Click to expand...
Number one on that list is false. While it isn’t necessarily encouraged as the best thing for Catholics to marry non-Catholics, it is permitted by a dispensation from the bishop. My husband and I had no problem obtaining said dispensation and neither did my parents.

I would seriously question this priest’s “laws”.
 
SeekerJen said:
Number one on that list is false. While it isn’t necessarily encouraged as the best thing for Catholics to marry non-Catholics, it is permitted by a dispensation from the bishop. My husband and I had no problem obtaining said dispensation and neither did my parents.

I would seriously question this priest’s “laws”.
Click to expand...
Very near relatives is also not true. First cousins don’t find it difficult to obtain a dispensation.
 
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