Will Christ be present at my daughter's wedding?

[rita7160]

My daughter, a Catholic, is getting married to a non-practicing Jew. -Even though she is not attending church at this time, she is starting to realize that she needs to start going again and will be raising any children she may have as Catholic.- He doesn’t want for his family to feel uncomfortable so it will not be in a church, he also does not care to have a rabbi present. My understanding is that a priest will not preform a marriage outside of a church, so we did not even ask. We found a priest from the Celtic Rite to perform the ceremony but the wording in the service will mention GOD but not JESUS. Because JESUS name will not be mentioned, my mother insists that HE will not be present and so she refuses to go to the wedding. I reminded her that in Mt 18:20 it says, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” All our family and friends that will be in attendance are Catholic or christian. With everyones prayers directed to GOD through Jesus - who are one anyway - I say He will be present.
Any help from you in clarifying this would be very helpful. This is her first granchild that is getting married and my daughter really wants her there. She is also the only surviving grandparent on both sides.
Sincerely,
Rita

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

For a Catholic to marry outside of the Catholic Church is to enter into a non valid marriage. It is a mortal sin to do so. Such is worse than not having Jesus present at the wedding.

Your family is in our prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.