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Anonymous Mark wrote: |
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Hi, guys —
My wife and I married 40 years ago when I was not a Catholic, but my wife was.
I was not baptized in any faith but married by a Catholic priest.
- Should we renew our vows in a Marriage Mass?
Mark
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| { In light of our religious and marital backgrounds, should we renew our vows in a Marriage Mass? } |
Eric replied:
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Mark,
This is a question that really your local priest is more competent to answer than we are, as it is a canonical question.
I can say that a non-Catholic can validly marry a Catholic if the right permissions are obtained which, if a Catholic priest presides, can probably be presumed.
I see no reason to suppose your marriage's validity is doubtful, and I would not encourage you to question its validity, but whether you can "renew your vows" is a more complicated issue, your priest will have to answer.
Eric
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Mark replied:
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Thank you for the reply, Eric.
My local priest is where the problem started.
I have no doubt that we are legally married. We went through the process with the Church to make sure everything was done right but I've just found out that without a Mass and Communion, it is not a sacramental marriage.
I asked my priest to renew our vows for our 40th anniversary this June and he basically ran away saying something about "the church not wanting to do that".
I am not sure where to turn now.
Mark
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Eric replied:
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Mark,
Mass and communion or lack thereof at the wedding do not affect the validity of the marriage in and of themselves. It is typical at mixed marriages such as yours to not have a nuptial Mass. I don't know if there is some other reason at play in your case.
According to [PDF] the Order of Celebrating Matrimony (2013):
If a Marriage takes place between a Catholic and a baptized non‑Catholic, the rite for celebrating Matrimony without Mass (36, nos. 79‑117) should be used.
If, however, the situation warrants it, the rite for celebrating Matrimony within Mass (nos. 45‑78) may be used, with the consent of the local Ordinary; but with regard to admission of the non‑Catholic party to Eucharistic Communion, the norms issued for various cases are to be observed.
If a Marriage takes place between a Catholic and a catechumen or a non‑Christian, the rite given below (nos. 152‑178) is to be used, with the variations provided for different situations. (#36) |
I would write your bishop about the situation.
Eric
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