Can anyone help me with this question, is there some rule in Catholic law that refers to seven years, perhaps regarding marriage or divorce?
2007-07-14 10:01:42 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not a law, perhaps an older teaching or a rule of thumb.
Some orders (ie, Franciscans, Jesuits, Cistercians) have requirements of lengthy novitiates. This means that a novice (newcomer) would have to wait for so many years before joining the order and taking vows. But this is a rule that the specific order follows, not one that pertains to Catholics in general.
I really can't think of any law specifying a length of time for marriage, other than the general parish guidelines that a couple wait at least six months between an engagement and the wedding ceremony. This spacing is to allow time to complete the preparation process and allow the Church to investigate to make sure that the proposed marriage will be valid (ie, the couple aren't already married or consanguine).
The laws regarding divorce are clear and have no regard for lengths of time.
2007-07-16 07:14:54 · answer #1 · answered by Veritatum17 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. The only time I can think of the number 7 being important in regards to sacraments is that the "age of reason" is considered to be 7 years of age.
Most Catholic parishes will ask that you contact them regarding getting married at least 6 months in advance, but that's as much about logistics as anything. And remember, the Catholic church doesn't "do" divorce.
2007-07-14 10:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church considers seven years as the age of reason.
This is why most Catholic children receive First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Eucharist (Communion) at about the age of seven.
This seems to be the only entry in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Code of Canon Law that mentions seven years.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-15 16:34:35 · answer #3 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing to do with divorce. It's not a rule either. It states though that you SHOULD take around 7 years before deciding to marry anyone. 7 years (7 is a very important number, 7 days to create earth, etc.), is a cycle, and it is believed that it takes 7 years to truethfully know if you found the right person.
2007-07-14 10:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by monomat99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No there is not.
2007-07-14 10:06:29 · answer #5 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋