A
alculver
Guest
I sincerely apologize if this question has been asked before. I have searched for similar situations, but can’t seem to find quite the information I am looking for. I am a recent convert to The Catholic Church, but have not been received yet. The reason is that I have a pending annulment and am currently married. I have been told there does not seem to be any reason to believe my annulment will be denied. Most likely based on the fact that I was 18 and pregnant. I am baptized (Lutheran) which was done after my first marriage so it was natural, not sacramental, but still potentially valid - my first husband was baptized (evangelical protestant) before our marriage. My current husband was baptized Catholic, but not catechized. I understand that I have to wait to receive the sacraments, painful as it is, and I am working hard to be patient, offering this time up. My real concern is how to approach my current marriage. Of course, the physical relationship is of concern - am I sinning or offending or hurting The Lord when I am intimate with my husband? But also, I try to follow The Church’s teachings on proper respect, attitude, etc toward my husband. But if he is not my husband where does that leave me? What is my role? What is his? I have asked a Priest about it and his answer (they are always so very busy) is that I need to “Trust in the Mercy of God”. He said that neither of us knew what we were doing in regards to the teaching of The Church because I wasn’t Catholic and he wasn’t catechized when we got married. The Priest’s attitude was one of dismissal, as though, I shouldn’t worry and I’m not responsible. Before meeting with him, I prayed and promised God that I would follow whatever he told me. But I find myself thinking about “God’s Mercy”. Does that mean, yes I’m sinning but God will forgive me? I can’t help but think that a sin is a sin once you know it’s a sin. But my question is, am I committing a sin? Would it be sinful not to honor my current marriage vows? Not to honor my husband, again, not just physically, but in appropriate attitude as well. I have no doubt about my calling to the vocation of marriage. I want to honor that vocation, and certainly not desecrate it. As I said, I just haven’t found any posts with quite these questions. Can you please help me?