My husband and I were planning a big wedding. My husband even received all of his sacraments through the R.C.I.A. program at our church. Unfortunately, I became extremely sick and was diagnosed with lupus. I had to quit my job and lost my health insurance. My husband tried to add me to his but needed a marriage license to do so. We eloped with out telling anyone. Eventually we shared the news and our families were both very happy for us and still wanted to plan a church wedding. We have been married for 3 years now and have a beautiful 15 month old son. We wanted to receive the sacrament of Holy Matrimony on our 4 year anniversary, however, we were told that we could not have a Nuptual Mass because we are already married. If the church does not recognize civil ceremonies then were are not technically married. Right? If this is the case we should be allowed to have our Nuputal Mass. What do you think???
2007-05-28 12:40:43 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
The Church recognizes your marriage already.
It can and will bless the marriage that already exists.
This is called a Convalidation of Marriage and may be able to happen during a Mass. Here is an article about the steps involved: http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0604.asp
Talk to your parish priest to get the process started.
With love and prayers in Christ.
2007-05-29 17:36:46 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can't have a nuptial mass because you are already married.
You can apply for a radical sanation- which means your marriage would be considered valid from the time of your civil union.
You could also get a convalidation ('blessing') which is effective from the convalidation forward.
Either of these can be done as a renewal of your vows with your party.
If you have already been in a civil union for three years, a 'wedding' is inappropriate. If you had taked the time to educate yourselves, you would have learned that you could have had a 'church' wedding from the very beginning. All you needed was the same marriage license you got anyway. Sounds like you had the rest of the marriage prep already done. You could have asked the priest to perform the ceremony for you!
Menawhile, until you are married within the guidelines of the Church, you should not be receiving the Eucharist.
2007-06-01 00:40:23 · answer #2 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to find an understanding priest to talk to, maybe a Canon lawyer or find a more liberal church before you push any issues with your parish.
The Catholic church does not recognize civil marriage as binding/valid if one of the parties is Catholic. However that could open up a whole new can of worms that you've been living in sin and unfortunately your child would be considered illegitimate as well.
Some churches are very inflexible about things like this.
2007-05-28 21:18:27 · answer #3 · answered by hw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Grandmother and Grandfather were married during war time in a civil service, then they were married again after he came home from the war, in the Catholic Church. My Grandmother had a child too, just like you do, while he was away at war, and they were still allowed to get married by a priest in the Catholic Church. The whole thing was considered "extenuating circumstances" or something like that. Sound like your situation was extenuating circumstances too. I'd talk to your priest, if he says no, talk to another priest from another church, because even from church to church things are sometimes different and it's the priest's decision (not the catholic church's) about whether or not they'll do something. Good luck
2007-05-28 19:48:39 · answer #4 · answered by AGT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes mam, they will allow the ceremony. Hopefully, you both or at least one already belong to the Catholic church. if not you need to jin the church and plan to be an active member. The church will not just want to marry you and think you are doing it for show and that they will never see you again. What you want is to renew your vows in a church. You can do this as long as one partner is catholic. You said he went through RCIA program, so he is Catholic. You did not mention what you are, but it does not matter as long as you belong to a Christian faith.
Good luck.
2007-05-28 19:59:00 · answer #5 · answered by 2Cute2B4Got 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as neither of you was previously married in the Catholic Church, (unless it was annulled) you will be able to be married in the church. And if you are both Catholic you will be able to have a Nuptial Mass.
If only one of you is Catholic, you will need a dispensation for a mixed marriage. You will not have a mass just a ceremony with readings and blessing of the rings etc...(no communion).
Talk to your priest.
2007-05-28 19:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by jade j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well as long as you both have not been married before to other people and are both Catholic you should be able to have the priest do some type of ceremony for the both of you.
Call some other Catholic churches and ask them!
Good luck.
2007-05-28 19:45:58 · answer #7 · answered by MKL 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because the Catholic church does not recognize civil ceremonies.
2007-05-29 11:20:38 · answer #8 · answered by whymewhynow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to your book is yes. check with other priests.
After all ,you are trying to make a wrong thing right.
There are priests form the old school and the new school,
who are more liberal. You are making the right choice.
You may call with anyproblem, Anytime:
Girls and Boys Town National Hotline
Phone: 1-800-448-3000
Email: Hotline@girlsandboystown.org
They will have several priests who can answer this for you.
Afterall It was founded by Father Flanagan. Go for it. =)
2007-05-28 20:06:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wouldn't be an actual Wedding but you could renew the wedding vows or have a blessing in the church
2007-05-28 20:22:20 · answer #10 · answered by Catherine A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋