Having a Catholic Wedding (8)

(Frequently Asked Questions Part 8: Questions 44 to 75)


Planning & Preparing for the Wedding


Preparing for the Wedding: Nuptial Mass & Wedding Ceremonies

44. What are the different types of wedding ceremony in the Catholic Church?

45. What is a Nuptial Mass and when can a couple have one?

46. My fiance is Anglican. Can he receive the Eucharist at our Nuptial Mass? Can his friends and relatives?

47. We just want a simple ceremony, without a Mass. Is that possible with the Catholic Church?

48. If a Catholic marries someone from another faith, may they have Mass with the ceremony?

49. Is the wedding still a sacrament if there is no Mass?

50. May we get married on any day or at any time of the year, for example during Lent?

The Catholic Wedding Ceremony

51. What is a Catholic Wedding Liturgy?

52. What roles or ministries of the liturgy are there for my friends or relatives to participate in?

53. What parts of the Wedding Ceremony can we tailor to our situation?

54. Where can I get some help in preparing a booklet for our marriage ceremony?

55. Can we have songs which have a deep personal meaning for us?

56. Can we have a wedding rehearsal?

57. Do I have to have the Scripture reading about “wives be subject to your husband”?

58. May we include some readings that are not from the Bible?

59. Do I have to wear a white wedding dress?

60. What rules are there about photography?

61. Children are already involved in our relationship. May they have a role in the wedding?

62. What ministerial roles could my partner and I play? May we be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at the wedding?

63. Do the best man and maid of honour have to be Catholic? Can they still be official witnesses if they are not Catholic?

64. Do the best man and maid of honour have to be the witnesses

65. Does the Scripture reader have to be Catholic?

66. Will the priest ask, “Who gives this woman to this man”?

67. Will the priest ask if anyone objects to the wedding to “speak now or forever hold your peace?”

68. Can I walk up the aisle with my fiance, or does my father have to “give me away”?

69. May we incorporate our Filipino [or other ethnic] traditions in the wedding?

70. Do we have to have rings?

71. What is the nuptial blessing?

72. May we have communion under both kinds at the wedding Mass?

73. May people throw rice, confetti or flower petals at or after the ceremony?

74. Does the bride have to change her name at a Catholic wedding?

After the Catholic Wedding

75. After the Wedding, does the Catholic Church offer any programs to help couples to sustain and improve their marriage?



 

Preparing for the Wedding: Nuptial Mass & Wedding Ceremonies

 

44. What are the different types of wedding ceremony in the Catholic Church?

There are three forms of wedding ceremonies (ritesfor marriage) that are approved by the Catholic Church in relation to a sacramental marriage.

 

    • A wedding ceremony celebrated during an ordinary ‘Mass of the day’;

 

    • A wedding ceremony where no Mass is celebrated.

 

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45. What is a Nuptial Mass and when can a couple have one?

A Nuptial Mass is a marriage celebrated in the context of the Catholic Mass . The readings from Scripture and the celebration of the Eucharist are woven around the wedding ceremony. The Sacrament of Marriage between two baptised practising Catholics should normally be celebrated within the Mass because the Eucharist, which is the Sacrament of Unity, provides particular graces for the couple and both symbolises and is a source of their mutual unity in Christ. The spouses and guests who are Catholic are invited to receive the Eucharist, the body of Christ present in sacramental form.

“The celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection of all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ. In the Eucharist the memorial of the New Covenant is realized, the New Covenant in which Christ has united himself forever to the Church, his beloved bride for whom he gave himself up. It is therefore fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice, and by receiving the Eucharist so that, communicating in the same Body and the same Blood of Christ, they may form but ‘one body’ in Christ” (CCC 1621).

Provided the local bishop gives permission, a Nuptial Mass may be celebrated for a marriage between a Catholic and a baptised person who is not a Catholic.

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46. My fiance is Anglican. Can he receive the Eucharist at our Nuptial Mass? Can his friends and relatives?

In the Catholic tradition, the reception of the Eucharist is not simply an act of individual devotion, but is the sacramental sign of the Church community’s unity in faith, worship and community life. For this reason, ‘Eucharistic sharing’, which is common in some non-Catholic denominations, is generally not permitted. In exceptional circumstances, and subject to specific conditions, the local bishop may give approval for the non-Catholic partner to receive the Eucharist at a Nuptial Mass. Non-Catholic friends and relatives, however, would not normally be given approval to receive the Eucharist.

To avoid embarrassment, the priest would normally explain the Catholic tradition and invite non-Catholics to come forward during the distribution of the Eucharist, with their arms crossed, to receive a blessing.

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47. We just want a simple ceremony, without a Mass. Is that possible with the Catholic Church?

You can have a wedding ceremony within a celebration of God’s Word. The ceremony includes prayers for the couple, some appropriate readings from Scripture, the marriage ceremony itself and the nuptial blessing. This ceremony does not include Mass or the Eucharist and is common for couples of different Christian traditions or mixed faith.

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48. If a Catholic marries someone from another faith (for example Jewish or Muslim), may they have Mass with the ceremony?

Whilst a marriage between a Catholic and a person of a non-Christian faith may be celebrated in a church, the wedding ceremony would not normally include Mass . If there is a compelling reason, the local bishop has authority to approve a Nuptial Mass.

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49. Is the wedding still a sacrament if there is no Mass?

Provided that the Church requirements for a valid marriage are met, the marriage between two baptised Christians is sacramental whether or not it is solemnised at a Mass.

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50. May we get married on any day or at any time of the year, for example during Lent?

Catholic weddings are not held on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Also, for practical reasons, a Parish may limit the times and days when they will allow a wedding. For instance, many parishes will not allow weddings to be scheduled late on Saturday afternoons, to avoid conflict with the Saturday evening Mass, or on Sundays when there are competing parish commitments such as Confirmations or First Communion.

In addition, there are other occasions, for example on Sundays and some special feast days, when a Nuptial Mass may not be celebrated. The issue on these days is, more accurately, what readings may be used when a wedding is celebrated during Mass. We may still celebrate a wedding during Mass on these days, but the readings and liturgical practices must be those assigned for that day. On the days when a Nuptial Mass is not allowed, a wedding may be celebrated outside of Mass using the approved readings for weddings.

Early consultation with your parish regarding dates and times is advised.

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51. What is a Catholic Wedding ‘Liturgy’?

Marriage in the Church is not a private affair where the couple can design their own liturgy, their own vows, and their own songs. It is an official public rite of the Church — a celebration of the couple, who are the ministers of the Sacrament, but at the same time a celebration of the whole Church.

As such, Catholic weddings follow the general norms for liturgical celebrations. However, there are a number of options available for you to choose that will enable you to enrich the celebration with expressions of your own faith. The priest will assist you in understanding the nature of the liturgy, and the various options available regarding music, readings, and the ritual. Reflecting prayerfully on these together can be an important part of your spiritual preparation for the sacrament.

The wedding liturgy should be planned to encourage the participation of the congregation through song and prayer. It should express both your faith and commitment and that of the gathered community. It provides an opportunity for the community to pray for you, and to promise you their support in your married life.

Your parish may provide you with a workbook for planning the liturgy.

The Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese has prepared a useful booklet, Celebrating Marriage in a Catholic Church, which
outlines the requirements for marriage in a Catholic church and gives an outline of the rite. This pamphlet may be purchased online from: Celebrating Marriage in a Catholic Church

Also, the Catholic Australia Web site provides a valuable planning guide on the celebration of marriage within Mass: The Celebration of Marriage Within Mass

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52. What roles or ministries of the liturgy are there for my friends or relatives to participate in?

There are a variety of ministries in each liturgical celebration. Some roles can only be filled by a Catholic (for example, an Extraordinary_Minister of Holy Communion); other ministries, like that of reader, may be done by qualified persons of other faith traditions. You should discuss this with your parish priest. You should keep in mind that the Sacrament of Marriage is a sacred rite of the Church and so take care in selecting and preparing people to fill these roles, making sure they have the skills and gifts necessary.

STRUCTURE OF THE CATHOLIC RITE OF MARRIAGE

    • INTRODUCTORY RITES
      After the entrance procession, the priest greets and welcomes the people and prays the opening prayer.

 

    • LITURGY OF THE WORD
      A reading from scripture is followed by the reading or singing of a psalm and the reading of the gospel. An extra reading from scripture may be included before the Gospel. Then, in the homily, the priest or deacon speaks regarding the sacrament of marriage.

 

    • LITURGY OF MARRIAGE
      After an introduction and some questions addressed to the couple by the presiding minister, the couple declare their consent to marry. This is followed by the blessing and exchange of rings, and prayers of intercession. If the Liturgy of the Eucharist is not included, the Nuptial Blessing and Lord’s Prayer follow.

 

    • LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
      If the marriage is celebrated during Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist follows. It incorporates the Lord’s Prayer and Nuptial Blessing.

 

    • CONCLUDING Rites
      The marriage register is signed and the priest then blesses the couple and the people.

 

Early consultation with your parish regarding available dates and times for the wedding ceremony is advised.

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Planning the Wedding Ceremony

 

 

53. What parts of the Wedding Ceremony can we tailor to our situation?

The Entrance Procession may include the liturgical ministers and priest, as well as the bride and groom, family members and attendants. There are many ways to plan it. For example, a liturgical procession followed by procession of the wedding party; attendants entering as couples rather than the bridesmaids alone; bride and groom on their own or accompanied by all parents or relatives in the procession; or the bride escorted by her father or mother.

The Liturgy of the Word follows the format as at any Mass. The readings may be selected from the many options given in the lectionary, or may be other appropriate readings from Scripture. Non-scriptural readings may not be used. The psalm is preferably sung, as is the gospel acclamation. The general intercessions can be crafted by the couple, but should follow a standard format and should address the needs of the world and the universal Church as well as the needs of the couple.

For the Rite of Marriage, the couple should be clearly visible to the entire assembly as they exchange vows, because they are the focus of the rite. There are various options provided for the wording of the vows.

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54. Where can I get some help in preparing a booklet for our marriage ceremony?

There is a book – When We Marry – that is available at any Catholic bookshop. It contains all the readings and prayers of the ceremony. It is also available from The Liturgical Commission, GPO Box 282, Brisbane 4000 or can be purchased from the Archdiocesan web site: When We Marry.

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55. Can we have songs which have a deep personal meaning for us?

Music in the Church during liturgies is simply another form of prayer giving praise and worship to God. The music used before or during the liturgy should be clearly identifiable as prayer by all present. Secular love songs and ballads that have personal meaning to the couple are not appropriate in the Church and would be more suitable for the reception. You should consult the local parish priest regarding suitable music.

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56. Can we have a wedding rehearsal?

A wedding rehersal may be conducted by the priest witnessing the marriage, or by a parish wedding rehearsal coordinator. This is part of the preparation process and offers an excellent opportunity for the wedding party to join together in prayer.

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57. Do I have to have the Scripture reading about “wives be subject to your husband”?

This text from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which includes the injunction that “wives be subject to …”, is not about male domination or superiority but about the mutual gift and mutual submission of husband to wife and wife to husband. However, there are many other suitable Scripture readings to choose from. Refer to the booklet When We Marry, or ask your parish priest for suggestions.

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58. May we include some readings that are not from the Bible?

Non-scriptural readings are not used in the Catholic wedding ceremonies. They are more appropriate at the reception.

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59. Do I have to wear a white wedding dress?>

There is no stipulation on what the bride and groom, or the members of the bridal party, should wear. Wedding fashions have changed over the centuries. However, the style of clothing should be in accord with the dignity of the occasion and be respectful of those present.

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60. What rules are there about photography?

Photos and videos are important for friends and relatives and for future children and grand-children. However, the photographer and the photographing should not detract from the dignity of the occasion. The photographer should be discrete in moving around, and everyone should avoid the use of flash lights during the solemn parts of the Mass. There may be specific local rules which you should check with the parish priest.

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61. Children are already involved in our relationship. May they have a role in the wedding?

Depending on their age and ability, your children may be witnesses, attendants or readers. If they are communicating members of the Catholic Church they may also be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion if the presiding parish priest considers this warranted. If there are several younger children, they could each read one of the ‘Prayers of the Faithful’. You should discuss the possibilities with the parish priest.

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62. What ministerial roles could my partner and I play? May we be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at the wedding?

The primary ministerial role of the bride and bridegroom during the wedding is to administer the Sacrament of Matrimony to each other. Any secondary ministerial role detracts from this focus and is discouraged.

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63. Do the best man and maid of honour have to be Catholic? Can they still be official witnesses if they are not Catholic?

Because the witnesses are representing the worshipping community, the Church prefers that both Best Man and Maid of Honour be Catholic, but it is not mandatory. The other attendants also need not be Catholic. However, it is important that all be instructed in the required courtesies and reverences to avoid disrupting the dignity of the occasion.

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64. Do the best man and maid of honour have to be the witnesses?

For a valid sacramental marriage in the eyes of the Church there must be two witnesses in addition to the ‘Official Church Witness’ (usually the parish priest or deacon). Canon law makes no prescription regarding the witnesses. State law requires that the witnesses be 18 years of age or over.

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65. Does the Scripture reader have to be Catholic?

The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is normally done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader.

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66. Will the priest ask, “Who gives this woman to this man” ?

This is not part of the Catholic ceremony, but could be included if requested.

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67. Will the priest ask if anyone objects to the wedding to “speak now or forever hold your peace” ?

This is not part of the Catholic ceremony.

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68. Can I walk up the aisle with my fiance, or does my father have to “give me away”?

The Catholic ‘Rite of Marriage during Mass ‘ assumes that the couple would normally proceed to the altar together. This is more in keeping with the Catholic understanding that the couple are the ministers of the Sacrament to each other. However, it is a common custom in Australia for the father or mother of the bride, or both, to escort the bride to the altar.

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69. May we incorporate our Filipino [or other ethnic] traditions in the wedding?

The Church allows cultural adaptations within the ceremony as long as they are in keeping with the nature and spirit of the liturgy. Such adaptations should not be overpowering, and need to be approved by the presiding priest.

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70. Do we have to have rings?

It is now a common custom in Australia for husband and wife to exchange rings. This, however, is a matter of custom not Church law.

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71. What is the nuptial blessing?

The Nuptial Blessing is special prayer for the bride and groom invoking God’s blessing for their married life together. At a Nuptial Mass it is given just before the Eucharist is distributed. At weddings where there is no Mass , the Nuptial Blessing is given towards the end of the ceremony. You may choose from three approved forms of the Blessing. Because this is a solemn prayer of the Church invoking God’s blessing on the couple the Church does not permit personal adaptations of the wording.

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72. May we have communion under both kinds (bread and wine) at the wedding Mass?

Where both bride and groom are Catholic, Communion under both kinds is permitted for the couple.

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73. May people throw rice/confetti / petals after the ceremony?

Because of the effort involved in cleaning up after the use of confetti, rice or flower petals, most parishes ban their use. Often parishes apply a refundable ‘confetti bond’ to cover the cost of cleaning up if guests do throw confetti or other material. You should discuss this with the parish priest.

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74. Does the bride have to change her name after a Catholic wedding?

This is a matter of culture and custom not Church law.

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After the Honeymoon

 

75. Does the church offer any programs to help couples to improve their marriage?

Peer ministry for married couples is widespread within the Catholic Church community. Many couples meet in small groups organised by the parish or by one of the various marriage or family organisations within the Church. Marriage enrichment weekends and seminars are offered in many dioceses. Some parishes sponsor a retreat day or evening of reflection for married couples. Others offer a mentoring system that matches older couples with younger ones.

A Directory for Catholics listing organisations and programs that support marriage and family is available through the Brisbane Archdiocese, Directory of Organisations that Support Marriage and Family. This includes the national WEB addresses of many such organisations.

Most Catholic Diocesan and Archdiocesan web sites list relevant Catholic organisations and programs that support marriage and family life in their areas.

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<align=”center”>Having a Catholic Wedding – Key References

Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Hypertext version: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: The Sacrament of Matrimony
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Sacrament of Matrimony

Code of Canon Law
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Code of Canon Law

The Christian Family in the Modern World (Familiaris Consortio)
<align=”left”>Download from link:
The Christian Family in the Modern World

Divorce & the Catholic Church: Frequently Asked Questions
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life. Canberra, 2006.
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Divorce & the Catholic Church – FAQ

Marriage in the Catholic Church: Frequently Asked Questions
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life, 2006.
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Marriage in the Catholic Church – FAQ

God’s Gift of Life & Love: A Pastoral Letter to Catholics on Natural Fertility Methods
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life, 2009.
<align=”left”>Download from link:
God’s Gift of Life & Love

The Sacramentality of Marriage. Grace for Marriage and Family Life
Bishop Peter Elliott, 2001.
<align=”left”>Download from link:
The Sacramentality of Marriage

The Sacrament of Marriage
Includes discussion of marriage preparation, details of the wedding ceremony and FAQs on marriage in the Catholic Church
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Catholic Australia – Marriage

Catholic Society for Marriage Education
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Catholic Society for Marriage Education

Catholic Inquiry Centre
<align=”left”>Download from link:
Catholic Enquiry Centre

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<align=”center”>Having a Catholic Wedding – Glossary

Baptism
Baptismal Certificate
Canon Law
Canonical form
Catechism
Conscience
Consent
Convalidation
Diocese
Dispensation
Sacrament of Holy Communion / Eucharist
Extraordinary_Minister
Impediment
Liturgical Act
Mass
Nuptial Mass
Parish
Parish Priest
Retroactive Validation (Radical Sanation)
Rite
Rite of Marriage
Sacrament
Sacramental Marriage
Marriage Tribunal
Valid Marriage

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Canon Law

The canon law of the Catholic Church is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. The Code of Canon Law 1983, referred to in this document, is the body of Church Law promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 25 January, 1983. It is binding on all baptised members of the Latin (or Roman) Catholic Church.

Canon law regarding marriage in the Catholic Church prescribes certain rules, give discretion on some rules to the local bishop and give discretion in other areas to the local priest. Apart from these, neither the bishop nor priests may impose restrictions or requirements beyond those already defined by canon law

Eastern Rite Churches which are in communion with the Pope have their own Code of Canon Law (Code of Canons of Oriental Churches, 1990) which governs their members. The laws regarding marriage for members of Eastern Rite Churches differ in some respects from those of the Latin Church.

The English edition of the Code of Canon Law is available at the Vatican web site:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM

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Canonical Form

Canonical form refers to conditions required under the canon law of the Catholic Church for a valid marriage where one or both parties are Catholic. For the marriage of a Catholic to be valid, it would be celebrated in a Catholic Church, by the local bishop or the local parish priest (or a priest or deacon delegated by either of them) and before two adult witnesses. For a valid reason, a dispensation from the canonical form can be obtained, for example for the marriage ceremony to be in a different location than a Catholic Church, or for a minister of another Christian denomination to be the celebrant.

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Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (or CCC) is a statement of the Church’s faith and of Catholic doctrine. Pope John Paul II declared it to be “a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion and a sure norm for teaching the faith”.

The English edition of the Catechism is available from the Vatican web site:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

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Consent

In addition to being free to marry, both parties must intend marriage. In the Catholic Church, it is consent that creates marriage. Consent consists in a human act by which the partners mutually pledge themselves to each other. Consent must be a free act of the will of the consenting parties, free of any coercion or grave external fear. If freedom is lacking, the consent is invalid and the marriage is invalid. See also CCC 1625-1632.

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Conscience & the Catholic Church

Pope John Paul II taught that conscience is an “interior dialogue of man with himself” about right and wrong. Conscience is a judgment of reason by which a person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act (CCC 1976). A person must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience (CCC1800). However, one’s conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments (CCC1801). Every person, therefore, has a lifelong obligation to form their conscience especially, in the case of Catholics, by seeking to understand the teaching of Scripture and of the Church (CCC 1794).

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Convalidation

There are many baptised Catholics whose marriages do not meet the legal requirements of the Church. A common situation is where the marriage took place in a civil ceremony or in a non-Catholic church without prior approval of the bishop. Such marriages may be valid in the eyes of the State but are invalid in the eyes of the Church.

Validation or convalidation of marriage is the process under the canon law of the Catholic Church by which a couple can seek to have a valid sacramental marriage (Canons 1156-1160).

Provided that there are no impediments to a Catholic marriage, the convalidation ceremony, through the mutual consent of the couple before the priest and witnesses, confers the sacramental marriage.

The convalidation ceremony is a true marriage ceremony, but simpler than a normal wedding. However, through discussion with the parish priest, it may be kept simple and discrete or incorporated into the liturgy of the Mass.

See also Retroactive Validation (also referred to as radical sanation)

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Diocese

A Diocese is the district under the spiritual authority and pastoral care of a bishop. It is divided into Parishes.

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Dispensation

A dispensation is the relaxation, for good and valid reasons, of the Church’s canon law in a particular case. It only relates to purely Church laws, for example the requirement that a Catholic marriage should take place in a Catholic Church. Dispensations cannot be given from Church doctrine which has its origin in divine law, for example Jesus’ teaching on divorce. Canon law specifies where dispensations may be granted and who has the authority.

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Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

An extraordinary minister of Holy Communion in the Catholic Church is, under the Code of Canon Law, an acolyte or other baptised Catholic deputed, in certain specified circumstances, to distribute Holy Communion (Can. 910). The term “extraordinary” distinguishes such a person from the ordinary (normal) minister of Holy Communion, namely a bishop, priest or deacon. “Extraordinary” also refers to the circumstances, namely that the priest is prevented from distributing Holy Communion due to injury, age or some other significant reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged.

Refer: Redemptionis Sacramentum, “On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist” (2004).
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

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Impediment

In the canon law of the Catholic Church, a canonical impediment is a legal obstacle that prevents a sacrament from being performed validly and/or licitly. Impediments are either from divine law, and so cannot be dispensed, or from Church law and, for a good and valid reason, may be dispensed by the competent Church authority (typically, the local bishop).

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Liturgy / Liturgical Act

A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions. In the Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in the Work of God. It refers to the celebration of divine worship and the proclamation of the Gospel, and in this it is participation in Christ’s own prayer to the Father in the Holy Spirit. (CCC1069-1073.)

Of particular importance for liturgy is the action and full participation of the congregation as a body. The liturgical act is done by every individual, not as an isolated individual, but as a member of a body which is the “we” of the prayers. Its structure is different from that of any other collection of people meeting for a common purpose. In the liturgical act the celebrating individual becomes part of this body, the “Church”, the body of Christ. (CCC1140.) This is true also with the liturgy of marriage. Whilst it is the couple who are the ministers, the celebration of the sacrament takes place amongst the community of Church; it is witnessed by the Church; and the Church as a whole prays for, rejoices with and welcomes the couple into a new ministry within the Church. (CCC 1630-1631.)

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Mass

The Mass is the complex of prayers and ceremonies that make up the Eucharistic celebration in the liturgical rites of the Catholic Church.

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Nuptial Mass

A Nuptial Mass is a marriage celebrated in the context of the Catholic Mass. The readings from Scripture and the celebration of the Eucharist are woven around the wedding ceremony. (CCC1621-1622.)

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Parish

A parish is typically the territorial unit served by a parish church or local church. It also refers to the community of baptised Catholics who attend the local church and whose pastoral care, under the authority of the diocesan bishop, is entrusted to a parish priest.

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Parish Priest

The parish priest exercises the pastoral care of the Church community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of preaching the Gospel, administering the sacraments and ministering to those especially with spiritual needs.

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Retroactive Validation (Radical Sanation)

The retroactive validation of an invalid marriage is its subsequent validation without the renewal of consent, granted by the competent authority (typically, the local bishop). It involves a dispensation from an impediment if there is one and from the canonical form if it had not been observed. (Can. 1161 §1).

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Rite

A Christian rite comprises the manner of performing the diverse services for the worship of God, including formal prayers and blessings, the administration of the sacraments including the Sacrament of Marriage, and the service of the Holy Eucharist, the Mass.

In a slightly different sense we call the whole complex of the services, or liturgical tradition, of any Church or group of Churches a rite. For example, we speak of the Latin or Roman Rite, the Byzantine Rite, and various Eastern rites. In this case it refers to the distinctive liturgical practices of the different Churches. (CCC 1200-1206.)

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Rite of Marriage

The ‘Rite of Marriage’ is the official guidance of the Catholic Church regarding which details and wording are essential (for example in regard to the wedding vows, the words of ‘consent’), where there may be choice (for example regarding which readings from scripture are used), and where there may be cultural variations in the ceremony (for example, the exchange of wedding rings). The Rite of Marriage specifies these details for:

    • the order of a Catholic wedding ceremony during Mass;

 

    • the order of a Catholic wedding ceremony outside of Mass; and

 

  • the order of a wedding between a Catholic and an unbaptised person.

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Sacrament

A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which invisible grace, divine life, is communicated to the receiver. The outward visible rites by which a sacrament is celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to the sacrament. A sacrament bears fruit in those who receive it with the required dispositions.

The fruit of sacramental life is both personal and ecclesial. For every one of the faithful on the one hand, this fruit is life for God in Christ Jesus; for the Church, on the other, it is an increase in charity and in her mission of witness. (CCC 1131-1134.)

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Baptism / Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as children of God; we become members of the Body of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.” (CCC 1213-1274.)

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Baptismal Certificate

A ‘Baptismal Certificate’ is a document, kept at the parish where a baptism took place, which certifies that a person has been baptised. Any subsequent marriage in the Catholic Church is also registered on the baptismal certificate.

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Sacrament of Holy Communion / Eucharist

The Sacrament of the Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church’s life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church. The Eucharist is the memorial of the work of salvation accomplished by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is Christ himself who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. And it is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice. (CCC 1322-1344.)

Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicants’ union with the Lord, forgives their venial sins, and preserves them from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between communicants and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.

Benedict XVI talks of a “profound bond” between the sacrament of the Eucharist and that of marriage, noting how “the liturgy places the celebration of the sacrament of marriage at the heart of the celebration of the Eucharist. […] In their daily lives, couples must draw inspiration for their behaviour from the example of Christ who ‘loved the Church and gave himself up for her.’ “

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Sacramental Marriage

The Catholic Church understands that Marriage is a sacrament instituted by Christ to provide special graces to the couple. Indeed, canon law is even more precise: “a valid marriage cannot exist between two baptized persons without it being by that very fact a sacrament” (Can. 1055 §2).

The consent by which the spouses mutually give and receive one another is sealed by God himself. The covenant between the spouses is integrated into God’s covenant with man. In the words of the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: “Authentic married love is caught up into divine love and is governed and enriched by Christ’s redeeming power … so that this love may lead the spouses to God with powerful effect and may aid and strengthen them in sublime office of being a father or a mother.”

This grace proper to the sacrament of Matrimony is intended to perfect the couple’s love and to strengthen their indissoluble unity. By this grace they: “increasingly advance the perfection of their own personalities, as well as their mutual sanctification, and hence contribute jointly to the glory of God.”

Christ is the source of this grace. Christ dwells with them, gives them the strength to take up their crosses and so follow him, to rise again after they have fallen, to forgive one another, to bear one another’s burdens and to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love.

This means that when, for example, two Catholics, two Protestants, or a Catholic and a Protestant marry validly, their marriage is by definition a sacramental marriage. Ironically, not all Protestants agree with this! Lutherans, for example, do not believe that there are seven sacraments, for they accept only two, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This means that when two baptized Lutherans marry validly in a Lutheran church, they themselves do not believe that their marriage is sacramental. Catholics, in contrast, will unhesitatingly assert that this Lutheran marriage is in fact a sacramental marriage. Simply put, the Catholic Church believes that it is impossible for two baptized people to validly marry without their marriage being a sacrament. See also CCC 1615, 1639-1642

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Tribunal / Marriage Tribunal

A Marriage Tribunal is a Church court, established in each diocese under canon law, to assist with the pastoral care of divorced persons seeking to remarry or seeking clarification of their standing in the Church and of divorced and remarried persons seeking to have their subsequent marriage recognised in the Church. The Tribunal does not grant divorces. Rather, it looks at all the circumstances of a ‘failed’ marriage, from the perspective of Church law, to determine whether there were impediments or other factors associated with the original marriage which meant that it was never a valid sacramental marriage in the first place. In such a case the contracting parties are free to marry, provided the natural obligations of a previous union are discharged.

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Valid Marriage

Both the Church and State have legislation governing who may marry and the conditions required for marriage. If the conditions of Church canon law are not met (for example, if one of the parties had previously had a valid marriage and their spouse is still alive, or if the marriage is celebrated only in a civil ceremony) the Church considers that marriage to be invalid. In the eyes of the Catholic Church, if a marriage is judged to be invalid, it never existed and a decree of nullity (an annulment) can be issued to this effect. A couple may be validly married according to civil law, even though the marriage is invalid in Church law.

For a Catholic marriage to be a valid sacramental marriage:

    • the wedding must be celebrated in the presence of a Catholic priest/deacon/bishop (unless a dispensation is given) and two adult witnesses, normally in public and usually in a church (Can. 1108 §1);

 

    • both parties must be free to be married, that is neither person has a prior valid marriage (Can. (1085 §1);

 

    • both partners must understand and accept the nature of Catholic marriage, namely that it is a lifelong, faithful partnership which is open to the gift of children (Can. 1101 §2);

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    • both partners must be emotionally and psychologically mature and capable of consenting to the marriage and they must freely express their consent to give and accept one another irrevocably in order to establish a Catholic marriage (Can. 1095-6); and

 

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