I am Catholic and my Husband is Protestant. We decided to marry at our local City Hall (4 months ago). I know that the marriage is not recognized by the Catholic church. I would like to start going to church more often now but I don't know if I would be "allowed" to receive the Eucharist. I have gone to confession but I totally forgot to ask the preist this question.
Does anyone know if it's ok? If not, what do I do?
2007-08-04 11:09:03 · 11 answers · asked by sweetnunziata 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
crazyem - I Have gone to confession.
2007-08-04 11:19:04 · update #1
Bionic Betty, Thank you for your honest answer but I must admit, it scared me! I'm scared that I will now go to Hell for marrying someone of another faith. I love my husband very deeply and would never leave him for not being a Catholic. I don't need him to convert.
2007-08-04 14:57:46 · update #2
According to Canon Law, since you are in a marriage not recognized by the Church, you have to do at least one of these things in order to start receiving the Eucharist. (If you've already done one, you can receive; if not, figure out which one you can do and do it -- your priest will help you.)
1 - Have your marriage blessed. It isn't difficult to get dispensation to marry a Protestant, unless there is some impediment to marriage, such as a previous marriage (either his or yours) that needs to be declared null. If one or both of you was married before, you would have to apply for annulment for any previous marriage(s). Once declared null, your current marriage will be blessed.
2 - Live as "brother and sister" until your marriage is blessed. This may require different residences if you and your husband don't have much self control, obviously, so it's the hardest choice of the two.
In the meantime, you can go to Mass every day if you like, sing in the choir, join the altar society, and participate in whatever other ways you like -- you just can't receive the Eucharist yet.
Oh, and next time you go to confession, you NEED to confess the fact that you married a non-Catholic without dispensation. Your priest will probably immediately give you advice as to how to get your marriage blessed ASAP. He wants you to receive the Eucharist as much as you do, honest.
2007-08-04 11:26:07 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, you are in a bit of a dilemna. If you are Catholic and not married in the church, you are technically in a state of serious sin. That means that you cannot receive Holy Communion. If you do, you will be committing yet another grave sin. You have to confess all the big stuff -- and being sexually involved without Christian marriage is big stuff-- before you can receive the sacrament again. A crucial aspect of being forgiven is the intention to CHANGE what you are doing. Therefore, going to confession isn't going to be sufficient to resolve your stress unless you RESOLVE to get married within the Church or leave your "husband."
It seems that God is calling on your heart to receive him again. This may be an opportunity to bring your husband into a state of grace as well!!!
You CAN be married in the Church without your husband converting. In addition, the Catholic Marriage ceremony offers you graces that will help your marriage to endure. It is a special gift from God who will then actively participate in your marriage to strengthen it as we undergo so many challenges in a world where less than half the marriages survive. I would encourage you to access that grace that your marriage will be stronger, your spiritual life will thrive, and your eternal salvation will not be so in jeapardy.
I don't believe you are going to find peace (here or everafter) until you reconcile with God. Listen to the discomfort you are feeling... it is a gift from God in order to motivate you to be with him.
God bless!!!
2007-08-04 11:47:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I know that you said Catholics only - so I hesitated to answer. I had a similar situation in my church. The man (Catholic) did not take communion for several years. He told me that it was because he was living in sin. I finally was able to encourage his wife (Protestant) to help. She was required to take classes and then they were remarried in the Catholic Church. He is now able to receive communion. I don't know if this helps.
Pastor John
Addendum: Don't be frightened of the situation, my sister. All that you need to do is have the wedding blessed. It doesn't mean that your husband has to convert. My young lady is still very active in our church. All he has to do is take the marriage classes of the church and have the wedding blessed. It isn't a difficult task.
2007-08-04 11:13:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Catholics marry non-Catholics each and every of the time. you will could desire to start up by using using getting dispensation, in spite of the fact that no count number if it is so time-venerated now, that isn't a super deal. by using skill of actuality Catholics evaluate Holy Matrimony to be a Sacrament and optimal non-Catholics do no longer, you will in all danger could desire to do all your premarital prep indoors the Catholic Church, yet you will in all danger choose for for to by using skill of actuality there is extra beneficial religious and useful training, because of the fact the marriage is an eternal factor for us. as quickly as you marry, you will the two have an entire Mass or in basic terms the wedding ceremony ceremony. optimal mixed couples % the ceremony in person-friendly words by using skill of actuality the non-Catholic can no longer acquire Holy Communion. you will could desire to promise to bolster your toddlers Catholic. Your boyfriend won't - the Church would not assume non-Catholics to appreciate the thank you to bolster Catholic young ones. in spite of the fact that if, he will could desire to promise to allow you advance the young ones Catholic, and he will could desire to promise to never intervene alongside alongside with your prepare of the Catholic faith. which will advise he can no longer attempt to coax you into skipping mass or using start up administration or turning off his IV if he's on life help to velocity his dying alongside.
2016-12-11 10:19:50 · answer #4 · answered by kostenbauber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not OK! Talk to a priest and tell him the situation. He may be able to validate the marriage and will be more than glad to try to help you in reuniting with the church.
2007-08-04 11:14:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. You need to have your marriage blessed by the church. And you're not supposed to receive Communion if you have sins you haven't confessed, though everyone seems to ignore this.
2007-08-04 11:12:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Since you seem to have a local church, phone and ask!
2007-08-04 11:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by Grace 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will be allowed to receive Eucharist, don't worry about it.
2007-08-04 11:45:39 · answer #8 · answered by cynical 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my dad's protestant and my mom's catholic and my dad still goes to church.
2007-08-04 11:21:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only Jesus has the power to forgive sins.
The Words Jesus spoke is the bread, it is not a ritual that makes you clean, it is the actual Words.
Jesus told us not to take vows (oathes) of marriage, for we are already promised in marriage to Him.
The physical church is of Satan, the Church of Jesus Christ is spiritual, and is within us. Just as the commandments of God the Father who art in heaven, are written in our forehead, our minds, not on stone.
I tell you a truth the Word of God's truth, 666 is not his number 636 is his number and his name is Moses.
2007-08-04 11:17:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋