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Blessing of a marraige

  • 20-07-2009 1:58pm
    #1
    Ex Flex Member
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19 ✭


    Hi all

    I am looking for some help with regard to finding a Catholic Priest willing to bless a Civil Ceremony.

    I and my Fiancée are both Catholic and lead “good” lives but we decided for personal reasons to get married in a Civil Ceremony.

    We always intended and thought that there would be no problem with arranging for a Catholic priest to bless our marriage, ideally after the ceremony or a day or so after.

    Either way we wanted and still do to have our wedding blessed.

    We consulted the GRO who have a list of Registered Solemnisers, priests who can bless a civil ceremony. I contacted the local parish priest, who is on the list, and he was frankly very unhelpful.

    It turns out that the list is made up of priests nominated to perform various duties , such as blessings, but is not a list of priests who want to do the various “other” duties, such as bless a marriage.

    I contacted the GRO and they said that there are priests who will do blessings but that I would have to literally “ring around” to find one.

    So far, I have had no luck.

    Does anyone know a Catholic priest who would be willing to perform the blessing of our marraige?

    I can arrange to have a former Catholic Priest who is now a COI minister ,perform a blessing but would rather have a Catholic Priest perform one.

    Or does it make any difference?

    Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

    EFM


Comments

  • #2
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,240 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    Sorry I cant be of more help on the finer details (I'm not RC), but I would argue that as all Christian denominations are talking about the same God, I don't think it would matter who gives the blessing at your wedding if God is central to your vows.


  • #3
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    I am not a Catholic, but as a registered marriage solemniser in Ireland I am fairly familiar with the legal and ecclesiastical issues involved.

    I think what you're looking for is convalidation - http://http://www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/ac0604.asp

    The problem is in this sentence:
    Catholics who exchange marriage vows in the presence of only ministers from other religious traditions or authorized civic officials are not considered validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

    Convalidation is to 'put right' what Catholicism sees as entering into marriage in an invalid way. Many priests will view what you're doing (deliberately marrying outside the church while expecting the church to bless it) as driving a cart and horses through their rules rather than repenting of doing things the wrong way and then putting it right.

    If you ask around then you might find an independent minded priest who is prepared to bend the rules a wee bit. It might be easier just to go with the CoI minister. Marriage is a commitment you both make to each other, and I think God is more than happy that you want to make Him a part of your marriage. I don't think He's particularly bothered whether a priest or minister belongs to one denomination rather than another.


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