Order of Sacraments?

[michelleleebb]

I have been baptized, received communion, confession and I am 25 yrs. old with two children that are baptized and my Husband ( or I should say husband to be — because we are married by a court… But are getting married in a Catholic Church in February) Are we not to receive the body of Christ at mass until we are married by church and I can not be confirmed until done so?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

michelleleebb:

I have been baptized, received communion, confession and I am 25 yrs. old with two children that are baptized and my Husband ( or I should say husband to be — because we are married by a court… But are getting married in a Catholic Church in February) Are we not to receive the body of Christ at mass until we are married by church and I can not be confirmed until done so?

If you are asking about receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation before Marriage, of course you could. The Pastor could request permission from the Bishop to Confirm you just prior to the Marriage vows. He must have some reason for the order of Marriage and Confirmation later. Maybe the Bishop has decided that he wants to Confirm all adults himself?

 

[puzzleannie]

Our deacon who conducts our RCIA classes, which also includes several baptized Catholic adults who have never been confirmed, has told us that the Catholic couples who have been married civilly must have their marriages blessed (convalidated) before thay can receive confirmation and/or communion. that is because they must go to confession first, and obviously they cannot be absolved if they are still in an objective state of sin. We do not speculate on the state of sin or state of soul of any person in the class, but refer them to the pastor for private counselling about their personal situation. We assume they are conducting their private life in conformity with what the priest tells them. If he says the marriage needs to be blessed, that is done first. If he determines their is a situation regarding a previous marriage that requires referral to the tribunal, that is done and resolved first.

In our class of 7 adults, plus 4 more couples, each marriage situation is different and has to be addressed differently, which is why the deacon and pastor take care of it, and then tell the RCIA team the order of sacraments for each person.

 

[Catholic2003]

From Familiiaris Consortio:

1. There are increasing cases of Catholics who for ideological or practical reasons, prefer to contract a merely civil marriage, and who reject or at least defer religious marriage. Their situation cannot of course be likened to that of people simply living together without any bond at all, because in the present case there is at least a certain commitment to a properly-defined and probably stable state of life, even though the possibility of a future divorce is often present in the minds of those entering a civil marriage. By seeking public recognition of their bond on the part of the State, such couples show that they are ready to accept not only its advantages but also its obligations. Nevertheless, not even this situation is acceptable to the Church.

The aim of pastoral action will be to make these people understand the need for consistency between their choice of life and the faith that they profess, and to try to do everything possible to induce them to regularize their situation in the light of Christian principle. While treating them with great charity and bringing them into the life of the respective communities, the pastors of the Church will regrettably not be able to admit them to the sacraments.

Presumably this includes the sacrament of confirmation.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Catholic2003:

From Familiiaris Consortio:

Presumably this includes the sacrament of confirmation.

In a broad sense yes, for those who choose not to rectify the situation and continue living as husband and wife. It would also include Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, etc. It is however specificaly directed towards receiving Holy Communion. Any Catholic who is willing to go to Confession and change the Marriage relationship to a brother/sister relationship temporarily can return to Holy Communion and could receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[Catholic2003]

Br. Rich SFO:

In a broad sense yes, for those who choose not to rectify the situation and continue living as husband and wife. It would also include Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, etc. It is however specificaly directed towards receiving Holy Communion. Any Catholic who is willing to go to Confession and change the Marriage relationship to a brother/sister relationship temporarily can return to Holy Communion and could receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Thanks for the additional explanation!