Is my Marriage Recognized by the Church?

Like other couples in your Parish or family, you may be wondering if your marriage is fully recognized by the Catholic Church. Catholic Church law ordinarily requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry before a Priest or Deacon in a Catholic Church or Chapel. Unless they received a “dispensation from canonical form,” Catholics who exchange vows in the presence of ministers from other religious traditions or civil officials are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Regardless of what happened in the past, the Catholic Church invites you to bring new meaning to your lives by embracing the vocation of marriage and dedicating your family’s mission to sharing God’s love.

Have you been asked to be a Godparent for Baptism or a Sponsor for Confirmation and were not married in the Catholic Church?  Convalidation may be for you.

Bringing Your Marriage into the Church:   “It is the presence of the Lord, who reveals Himself and the gift of His grace, that will render your marriage full and profoundly true.” – Pope Francis

In the Catholic Church, marriage is a Sacrament, like Baptism or Confirmation. A Sacrament brings you closer to God (and in the Sacrament of Marriage, to each other). Sacraments join Catholics all over the world with Jesus Christ and with one another, and are therefore the most important celebrations of the Church. 

At times, couples may choose to get married in a non-religious ceremony, whether because of differing religious beliefs, no significant spiritual beliefs, or a previous marriage that hasn’t been nullified. As your commitment to each other grows, you may discover or return to the Church and decide that it would be personally and spiritually meaningful to have your marriage recognized by the Catholic Church you belong to. This can be done through a convalidation ceremony.
 
Why Marry Catholic?:  Catholic Marriage is unique among other marital relationships because it is a Sacrament that makes Christ present in our world. The relationship between husband and wife mirrors the relationship of Jesus Christ for his people. In the Catholic tradition, husband and wife accept a role in God’s plan for humanity. They are ambassadors of God’s love, and they collaborate with God to keep humanity alive.

The vows exchanged by the couple are a sacred pact through which the spouses embrace each other, and, together, embrace Jesus as their partner. Through their union with Christ they participate in the unbreakable pact between God and humanity: the covenant that was sealed in the death and resurrection of Christ.

Benefits of Catholic Marriage:  One of the many benefits of a Sacramental Marriage is the power of God’s grace, which helps couples keep their commitment and find happiness together. Social scientists are finding that couples who recognize God’s presence in their relationship experience more satisfaction and are more likely to achieve lifelong marriage.

All in all, couples who choose to bring their marriage into the Church receive many gifts – peace of heart, oneness with the Church, the fullness of the sacraments, and God’s special blessing upon their marriage.

What if there is a Prior Marriage?
In the simplest terms, if a Catholic wishes to marry in the Church when there has been a previous marriage for either party, the partner in the earlier union must have died or the Church must have issued a declaration of nullity (frequently called an annulment) of the previous marriage.

The Catholic Church views all true marriages with respect. It presumes that they are valid. Thus, it considers the marriage of two Protestant, Jewish or even non-believing persons, any of whom marry according to their own tradition, to be binding in the eyes of God. Consequently, a tribunal process is required to establish that an essential ingredient in the relationship was missing from the start of the previous marriage.

For Catholics with a prior marriage outside the Church, the declaration of nullity is based on what is called a “lack of canonical form.” For Catholics with a prior “valid” marriage, the tribunal process is termed a “formal case.” Catholics should consult with their pastor if a declaration of nullity is needed.

3 things that need to be in place for a true (valid) marriage: capacity, consent, and canonical form.
A valid Catholic marriage comes into existence when a man and woman who are capable, give consent to a true marriage, including all the essential properties of marriage, and exchange this consent in the proper form for Catholic weddings. Because convalidation requires a new, free act of consent, the existing legal marriage is not merely "blessed". Rather, a new marriage is made. 

• Capacity
  • Psychological capacity (emotional maturity and stability)
  • Physical capacity
  • Freedom from impediments (e.g. a prior marriage, vows in a religious order, etc.
• Consent
  • To a lifelong marriage
  • To an exclusive marriage
  • To a marriage that is open to children
• Canonical Form
  • To be married in the presence of a Catholic Bishop, a Priest or Deacon delegated by either the Pastor or a Bishop, and two witnesses according to the Order of Celebrating Matrimony.
  • NOTE: Special permission is required for Catholics to marry in a place other than their Parish Church.

1. Contact your Parish for an appointment with your Pastor or his delegate to discuss the situation and determine what must be done.
2. Participate in formational sessions with a Priest or Deacon in the Parish who will work with you to identify the necessary paperwork to prepare you for a Sacramental Marriage.
3. If there is a prior marriage for either party, seek a Church declaration of nullity.
4. If married civilly two years or less, attend a Parish or Diocesan Pre-Cana program (for first-time marriages).
5. Determine the date and most suitable type of ceremony.
6. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and become actively involved together in your Parish community.

Please note:  A fee is not generally associated with a Convalidation

If you feel this may be for you, please contact the Parish Center Office – 732-747-5466 Option 1 or email [email protected] to discuss options.