What marriages need to be blessed after conversion?

[Phillieagle]

At a Prayer meeting today the question came up concerning 2 different members in regards to their marriages. In one case the husband has recently converted to the Catholic Church, In the other both the Husband and Wife have converted. I was of the understanding both marriages would have to be blessed in the church. I am looking for either a Canon law or a location in the Catechesis that would give us the answer. Both couples have been told that they do not have to have their marriages blessed. In one case one of the couples were married by a ships captain.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

If both the husband and the wife were not Catholics when they married, the Catholic Church would consider those marriages to be valid. But if one of the spouses was a Catholic and married outside of the Catholic Church, then the marriage would not be considered valid and would have to be convalidated (blessed).

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.