Validity of Marriage

[twf]

According to CCC#1623, a marriage in the Latin Church can be valid without the blessing of a priest (illicit, but still valid); however, it says that in the Eastern Rites, the priest’s blessing is NECESSARY for the validity of the marriage. This does not make sense to me. Can the traditions of particular churches change certain essential elements of a sacrament? I thought that the essential elements of the seven sacraments are completely immutable.

Thanks for your help.

 

[otm]

twf:

According to CCC#1623, a marriage in the Latin Church can be valid without the blessing of a priest (illicit, but still valid); however, it says that in the Eastern Rites, the priest’s blessing is NECESSARY for the validity of the marriage. This does not make sense to me. Can the traditions of particular churches change certain essential elements of a sacrament? I thought that the essential elements of the seven sacraments are completely immutable.

Thanks for your help.

The answer, obviously, is that they are not essential elements.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

twf:

According to CCC#1623, a marriage in the Latin Church can be valid without the blessing of a priest (illicit, but still valid); however, it says that in the Eastern Rites, the priest’s blessing is NECESSARY for the validity of the marriage. This does not make sense to me. Can the traditions of particular churches change certain essential elements of a sacrament? I thought that the essential elements of the seven sacraments are completely immutable.

Thanks for your help.

Essential elements of the Sacrament are different from the essential elements of the Rite of Marriage. Each Church (East, West) establishes the necessary elements for validity within their respective Church. In the Latin Church a Marriage can be both licit and valid without the blessing of a priest, under certain circumstances.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

There seems to be some confusion here. According to the Eastern Code of Canon Law #832 it is possible for a marriage to be valid without a priest’s blessing provided certain conditions are met. These include the extended inability to have a priest at the marriage.

Now, having said that, there are theological differences between East and West. In the West the couple are the ministers of the sacrament while, in the East, the priest is the minister. They do not have to have the same theology.

Deacon Ed

 

[twf]

Thanks everyone.
Deacon Ed: Yes, that is my problem. How can the basic theology be different? How can both the priest and the couple be the minister of the sacrament…depending on which rite you are in. Truth is truth. This is really what I wanted to know. I realize that there can be different stipulations from rite to rite as to what makes a marriage licit, but as far as validity, I don’t see how that can vary—unless the Church has the power to change the sacraments to some degree.