My mom is a catholic. She was married twice before she married my dad.
None of her marriages were in a church and performed by a priest. She was married by a justice of the piece . She divorced her first two husbands and my dad died.
So she started going to church and she is taking communion. Is that right?
I just want to make sure she gets to heaven.
lol.
2007-10-06 10:39:21 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Although it's probably not Cath-ethical, I think she's OK via the marriage loophole. Divorce is a sin ...BUT since her marriages were never valid *In The Eyes of The Church* the divorces never happened either.
BTW...CJ / Answerer #1 gave a non-answer and should be violated.
2007-10-06 10:45:13 · answer #1 · answered by heebus_jeebus 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You're so sweet to worry about that.
She should talk to the priest about becoming officially Catholic if she already isn't. The other marriages will be annulled since they weren't in a church.
If she already is Catholic, and the marriages weren't performed in a church, then there is no problem, because the church will not consider those marriages valid.
Now she is a widow, so if she is Catholic and paragraph 2 applies to her, there is absolutely no boundary limiting her from taking communion freely.
2007-10-06 10:48:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church will not consider you married if u aren't married in the Church or if you marriage place was not blessed by a Catholic preist. Therefor your mother was kinda comitting adultry according to the Church. I would advise you to ask her to go to confession. But it may not be that bad because she may not have known it was bad. O yeah u cant receive Communion after a divorce unless it was an annulment anyways.
2007-10-06 10:45:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, not according to church doctrine, but I'm not Catholic. Maybe if she asks her Priest for absolution she'll be able to take communion. As it is, no, divorced people are excommunicated in the eyes of the Catholic church.
2007-10-06 10:46:28 · answer #4 · answered by sheyna 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She was never really married officially in the eyes of the church. So, if she "kadoodled" with those two men in any way, then yes, she must go to Confession before she is able to recieve Holy Communion.
TELL HER: "MOM! GO 2 CONFESSION!!!!"
God bless you, just make sure she reads up and understands her faith (and takes it seriously)!!! All you can do is pray that she does. God bless you and her. CyaL8r.
[edit]:
If she did already recieve the Sacrament of Reconcilliation, then yes, it is perfectly fine for her to recieve Communion as often as she likes.
2007-10-06 16:50:42 · answer #5 · answered by Mussman13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you go to confession all your sins are resolved. If she's never been married in a Catholic Church, she's never been married in the eyes of the Church. Don't worry, I think she's a shoe in for heaven!
2007-10-06 10:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by JenJen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she made an honest confession after your dad died, the priest would have advised her and probably gave her absolution for all her past sins, regardless of the nature of the sins. We all have to be free of mortal sin before going to communion. It sounds like your mom qualifies for the communion.
2007-10-06 10:53:58 · answer #7 · answered by gismoII 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my limited knowledge I would say that anyone can take communion during Mass without worry.
The problem is that the old traditions, if followed as they once were, limit people capable of taking communion.
This is all changing to a more liberal approach.
Do what you feel is right, and don't worry.
The church and God will accept good hearted people.
Redemption is the foundation of catholicism.
2007-10-06 10:44:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
so, as I understand it...your Mom is currently not married, but was in invalid marriages?
If so, she is not considered married, but she still was fornicating because she had sex with men she was not validly married to. She needs to confess this AND the invalid marriages.
Then she may receive the Eucharist in good conscience.
She could also easily get the other two marriages documented as invalid now- in case she falls again.
2007-10-06 14:50:17 · answer #9 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think she can receive communion.Before the priest gives out the communion,he says something to the effect that those who have sinned and are not worthy to receive,just say the word and your sins will be healed.I think that really makes anyone there,wanting to receive,cleaned of their sins and welcome to receive Communion.
2007-10-06 10:50:56 · answer #10 · answered by Hope 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋