Wrong to Celebrate Anniversary of Civil Marriage?

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That is an incorrect statement. All Protestant marriages are presumed valid.

If one of the parties is a Catholic, they are bound by Church law to have a Church (not parish) wedding; but you have presumed the Catholic party was in full knowledge of the matter including the degree of sinfulness and the invalidity of the first ceremony. That has not been shown, nor does it need to be shown; as that entire matter is between them and their confessor.
 
The Church does not hold that children born of an invalid marriage are illegitimate; they leave legitimacy issues to the State.

And as to any children being told about the first marriage and the second, unless at some time they questioned the matter, most certainly they can be told of the date of the first ceremony as that date has to do with what the State might (or might not) have to say about legitimacy.
 
Agent94 said:
My husband and I first had a civil marriage 1 1/2 years before we married in the Catholic Church. We would like to celebrate our first one (civil marriage anniversary)
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What do you think about this civil wedding? Do you think it was the point when you became truly married?

Dan
 
GabrielZacarias said:
What if it creates scandal? For they could think Church laws aren’t that important.

I know I am annoying, ‘mea culpa’, but this does not mean I am wrong. As the first marriage was not really a marriage, I think it shouldn’t be celebrated.
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If it creates scandal, then they shouldn’t do it.

However, your wedding anniversary isn’t a day that you celebrate and remember your wedding ceremony and reception.

It’s a day that your celebrate your marriage and remember your vows.

There is a distinction.
 
Okay, since you note as a Canon lawyer, what do you mean by “truly”?

For all the people I have come across in Catholics Can Return Home programs and who did not follow Church law and have the marriage witnessed by a priest or deacon, every last one of them through they were married; friends and acquaintances thought they were married, and the State and the IRS considered them married.we could inquire as to the OP, whether it was they or their spouse (or both of them) who was under the obligation to have it so witnessed, but that invites others to start to speak about the sinfulness of the matter; and that specifically is not for us to wander into; it is not out rock to turn upside down and see what dwells beneath.

The problem people run smack dab into is the use of the word “valid”, as it has one meaning with the State (and the IRS, let’s not forget Uncle) and it has a different meaning with the Church. As we have lost between 2 and 3 generations to something between poor and almost non-existent catechesis, particularly about the sacraments, it is highly likely that we will find any number of Catholics in marriages the Church considers invalid, and the couple has no clue as to the issue.
 
Why would it be wrong? There is nothing wrong with celebrating your anniversary whether it is of a civil or religious marriage, and the Catholic Church has said nothing about it.
 
my dear, there is nothing wrong with what you choose to celebrate as long as your motive is purify in its essence and the essence finds its root in God
 
We were required to go to confession on the night of our wedding rehearsal. Our priest knew about our situation. He was very understanding.
So we went to confession the day before our wedding.
 
Certainly no!.. It is not unlawful for a married couple to celebrate their wedding anniversary with a designated date at any place they want. Whether they were married by a competent and authorized person or by the church. Marriage as we know is sacred not only to the church but also to the couple contracting the marriage provided the requirements for a valid marriage were followed. Hence, there is no law that prohibits a couple to express their love from one another so much more if they are civilly married.
 
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