The validation of an irregular marriage by a priest or deacon.

I know people who have eloped, had civil marriages, and some were married in other churches but their present marriage isn’t recognized by the Catholic church. I have heard of a procedure called convalidation that might allow them to validate their present marriage. Could you explain what convalidation means and how it applies to those who marry outside the church? There are many Catholic couples who attend Mass, enroll their children in religious education class and appear to be members of the church in good standing but their marriages are irregular. Church law requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry in the presence of a priest or deacon. In some cases a “dispensation” from this requirement is given.

I know people who have eloped, had civil marriages, and some were married in other churches but their present marriage isn’t recognized by the Catholic church.

I have heard of a procedure called convalidation that might allow them to validate their present marriage.

Could you explain what convalidation means and how it applies to those who marry outside the church?

There are many Catholic couples who attend Mass, enroll their children in religious education class and appear to be members of the church in good standing but their marriages are irregular.

Church law requires baptized Roman Catholics to marry in the presence of a priest or deacon.

In some cases a “dispensation” from this requirement is given.

If married without a dispensation by a minister, civil official or captain of a ship, the marriage is considered to be spiritually invalid by the church. In 1981 Pope John Paul II addressed this issues in an apostolic exhortation called, “On the Family.” The Pope pointed out that each case needs to be examined on a case by case basis. If a pastor becomes aware of an invalid marriage he should approach the couple in a “tactful and respectful way to determine if and how their marriage can be validated. Perhaps it would be best to examine a case or two. Alex and Mary Elizabeth are both Roman Catholics and were about to get married when a number of family problems occurred.

If married without a dispensation by a minister, civil official or captain of a ship, the marriage is considered to be spiritually invalid by the church.

In 1981 Pope John Paul II addressed this issues in an apostolic exhortation called, “On the Family.”

The Pope pointed out that each case needs to be examined on a case by case basis.

If a pastor becomes aware of an invalid marriage he should approach the couple in a “tactful and respectful way to determine if and how their marriage can be validated.

Perhaps it would be best to examine a case or two.

Alex and Mary Elizabeth are both Roman Catholics and were about to get married when a number of family problems occurred.

Mary Elizabeth came from a big family and she was the only girl. Her parents were in favor of her upcoming marriage to Alex but the pressures of arraigning the marriage was believed to be the cause of Mary Elizabeth’s mother’s heart attack. When Alex graduated from college he took a job in San Francisco but Mary Elizabeth, and both of their families lived in Los Angeles area. They only saw each other for a few hours per week. Mary Elizabeth drove to San Francisco on a weekend. Both she and Alex agreed to elope to Reno, NV and their hoped for result would be a lessening of tensions in their family.

Mary Elizabeth came from a big family and she was the only girl.

Her parents were in favor of her upcoming marriage to Alex but the pressures of arraigning the marriage was believed to be the cause of Mary Elizabeth’s mother’s heart attack.

When Alex graduated from college he took a job in San Francisco but Mary Elizabeth, and both of their families lived in Los Angeles area.

They only saw each other for a few hours per week.

Mary Elizabeth drove to San Francisco on a weekend.

Both she and Alex agreed to elope to Reno, NV and their hoped for result would be a lessening of tensions in their family.

By the time they told the pastor about the elopement they had been married for 10 years. The pastor was very surprised because they and their children were full parish participants who regularly attended Mass and other church functions. Fortunately, this situation would be easy to fix. Both Alex and Mary Elizabeth needed to get copies of their baptismal records and complete a standard marriage-investigation prenuptial form. The actual exchange of vows and convalidation took place at the main altar after a Saturday night Mass, they chose to have only members of their immediate family attend.

By the time they told the pastor about the elopement they had been married for 10 years.

The pastor was very surprised because they and their children were full parish participants who regularly attended Mass and other church functions.

Fortunately, this situation would be easy to fix.

Both Alex and Mary Elizabeth needed to get copies of their baptismal records and complete a standard marriage-investigation prenuptial form.

The actual exchange of vows and convalidation took place at the main altar after a Saturday night Mass, they chose to have only members of their immediate family attend.

Most convalidations are not that easy as in the case of Jacob and Ann. Jacob was Jewish and entered into a marriage that only lasted a year. He and Ann, a Catholic, fell in love. She became pregnant and they married at the county clerks office at the city hall. Ann’s mom tried to get them to convalidate their marriage and get the child baptized. Neither Ann nor Jacob, who was now attending the Catholic church after his RCIA program and baptism, had any objection to the baptism of their child but he was worried about the convalidation process which would involve a nullity commonly known as an annulment of Jacob’s first marriage. Wait a minute, Jacob is a Jew who married in the synagogue why does he need a Catholic annulment? To make sure he is free to enter into a marriage with a Catholic.

Most convalidations are not that easy as in the case of Jacob and Ann.

Jacob was Jewish and entered into a marriage that only lasted a year.

He and Ann, a Catholic, fell in love.

She became pregnant and they married at the county clerks office at the city hall.

Ann’s mom tried to get them to convalidate their marriage and get the child baptized.

Neither Ann nor Jacob, who was now attending the

Catholic church after his RCIA program and baptism, had any objection to the baptism of their child but he was worried about the convalidation process which would involve a nullity commonly known as an annulment of Jacob’s first marriage.

Wait a minute, Jacob is a Jew who married in the synagogue why does he need a Catholic annulment?

To make sure he is free to enter into a marriage with a Catholic.

The application for the annulment was a slow process because Jacob really didn’t want to think about his first marriage, but in time the application was completed and an annulment was granted. With that out of the way a big church wedding was planned on the anniversary of their civil marriage.

The application for the annulment was a slow process because Jacob really didn’t want to think about his first marriage, but in time the application was completed and an annulment was granted.

With that out of the way a big church wedding was planned on the anniversary of their civil marriage.

The most interesting barriers for not validating marriages come from the couples themselves NOT the church. Just because you have been married outside the church isn’t a barrier to the peace of mind, the oneness with the church that you will experience once God’s grace blesses your marriage and family.

The most interesting barriers for not validating marriages come from the couples themselves NOT the church.

Just because you have been married outside the church isn’t a barrier to the peace of mind, the oneness with the church that you will experience once God’s grace blesses your marriage and family.

Speak to the priest or deacon

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