Serous Question I need answered on Marriage

[DaMaMaXiMuS]

Hello all,

My sister got married at our local parish in 2004. From what I understand she only has been baptised in the church and done only one of the other two sacraments. I think it’s communion. But the point being she didn’t have all three done when she got married. In addition to this, her husband, also catholic and baptised in the church, has never done the other two sacraments.

Now several people have mentioned to me that they don’t understand how they were allowed to be married, being that they are both catholic and baptised without having the other sacraments. My sister said that the priest who did the wedding said that the other sacraments weren’t necessary.

So is their marriage valid?

Another question, not involving my sister’s marriage. If a married man and women are both catholics but got married in through the courts instead of the church, is their marriage completely invalid or is it valid if they both are baptised catholics and have done their confirmation and 1st communion. Obviously, if they’ve done those sacraments one would ask then why not get married in the church. But just to know the answer to this question let’s imagine that’s the case.

Obviously, if the answer is their marriage is valid then my next question is irrelevent. But assuming the answer were that their marriage were invalid, if they divorced throught the courts that united them in the 1st place, are they free to marry someone else, only this time through the church, done right.

Lil help please.

God Bless,

Nelson

 

[Catholic2003]

DaMaMaXiMuS:

My sister said that the priest who did the wedding said that the other sacraments weren’t necessary.

So is their marriage valid?

Yes, their marriage is valid. Confirmation is recommended, but is not required for validity.

DaMaMaXiMuS:

Another question, not involving my sister’s marriage. If a married man and women are both catholics but got married in through the courts instead of the church, is their marriage completely invalid or is it valid if they both are baptised catholics and have done their confirmation and 1st communion.

Baptized Catholics, regardless of the other sacraments, must marry in the Church, or their marriage is not considered valid.

DaMaMaXiMuS:

But assuming the answer were that their marriage were invalid, if they divorced throught the courts that united them in the 1st place, are they free to marry someone else, only this time through the church, done right.

They would need to submit some paperwork to the Church, and then they would be free to marry.

 

[St.Joanfan]

I would think they would need the sacrament of penance. I know confirmation is recommended but not required but if they are adults and obviously they are I don’t see how confession could be left out

 

[Rebecca_New]

Catholic2003:

Yes, their marriage is valid. Confirmation is recommended, but is not required for validity.

Baptized Catholics, regardless of the other sacraments, must marry in the Church, or their marriage is not considered valid.

They would need to submit some paperwork to the Church, and then they would be free to marry.

Catholics who are married in a civil ceremony may have their marriage blessed, it then becomes a marriage in the church. It is a small ceremony but beautiful just the same.

 

[Catholic2003]

St.Joanfan:

I would think they would need the sacrament of penance. I know confirmation is recommended but not required but if they are adults and obviously they are I don’t see how confession could be left out

Penance and communion are recommended but not required as well. From canon law:

Canon 1065 §1 Catholics who have not yet received the sacrament of confirmation are to receive it before being admitted to marriage, if this can be done without grave inconvenience.

§2 So that the sacrament of marriage may be fruitfully received, spouses are earnestly recommended that they approach the sacraments of penance and the blessed Eucharist.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

One should be in the state of grace - absolved of any mortal sins - when receiving any sacrament other than baptism or reconciliation [or the anointing of the Sick when unable to confess, e.g. unconscious]. If guilty of mortal sin the sacrament is still valid, but the graces of the sacrament are not received, and one commits a grave sin of sacrilege. The graces are later gained when one makes a good confession.

 

[DaMaMaXiMuS]

Thank you all very much for the clarity.

God Bless,

Nelson

 

[puzzleannie]

DaMaMaXiMuS:

Hello all,

Now several people have mentioned to me that they don’t understand how they were allowed to be married, being that they are both catholic and baptised without having the other sacraments. My sister said that the priest who did the wedding said that the other sacraments weren’t necessary.

So is their marriage valid?

full initiation including first communion and confirmation are strongly recommended, but the requirement is absolute. The priest would be right in counselling that without the completion of baptism through confirmation and participation in the Eucharist the couple is denying the very sacramental graces that foster daily family life in Christ, and deny themselves the help to carry out the demands of the marriage vows. But he cannot deny them marriage, a sacrament of the Church, because they are not confirmed.

 

[puzzleannie]

DaMaMaXiMuS:

Another question, not involving my sister’s marriage. If a married man and women are both catholics but got married in through the courts instead of the church, is their marriage completely invalid or is it valid if they both are baptised catholics and have done their confirmation and 1st communion.

baptized Catholics are required to be married in the Church, regardless of whether or not they are fully initiated through Confirmation and Eucharist. Unless the civil marriage has been convalidated (blessed) by the Church they are not married at all. If they wish to receive confirmation and 1st communion they must first rectify their marriage situation and request convalidation, confess this and all other sins of their past life, before they can approach the other sacraments of initiation.

 

[St.Joanfan]

Yes, my marriage was blessed after a civil ceremony and it was beautiful. That is an option I forgot but I still went to confession before the ceremony