From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
1601 "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament."
De la Catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica:
1601. "La alianza matrimonial, por la que el varón y la mujer constituyen entre sí un consorcio de toda la vida, ordenado por su misma índole natural al bien de los cónyuges y a la generación y educación de la prole, fue elevada por Cristo Nuestro Señor a la dignidad de sacramento entre bautizados." http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism_sp/p2s2c3a7_sp.html
Married civilly? Consider Convalidation!
For various reasons, you may have chosen to marry civilly instead of getting married in the Catholic Church. Whether there were complicating factors, or you simply did not understand the value of marrying in the Church, or you did not have a connection with Christ and the Church, we eagerly invite you to bring your marriage into the Catholic Church! The process to do this is called convalidation. It is usually not difficult.
Your life in your state sanctioned marriage contract may seem to be going just fine, but you are missing out on the securty, beauty, and blessings of a Catholic marriage. Together, you can enter into a deeper and more grace-filled relationship with each other and with God by having your marriage validated by the Church. The benefits of convalidation include: a return to the state of sanctifying grace, peace of heart, a covenantal bond rather than a contractal agreement, and sacramental graces of Holy Matrimony.
If either of you were baptized in (or received into) the Catholic Church, and you were married in a civil ceremony or under another religious denomination, your marriage, unless you received a dispensation, needs to be validated by the Church.
Convalidation is a relatively simple process if neither spouse was married before. If one of the spouses had any kind of prior marriage, and the prior spouse is still living, that marriage must have received a declaration of nullity (commonly called an annulment) from a Catholic tribunal before the convalidation of the present marriage can take place. In either case, the first step is to contact your parish (or, if you are not currently enrolled at a parish, then the one where you or your spouse currently reside) and make an appointment to thoroughly discuss your situation with the pastor or his delegate. The priest or deacon assisting you will advise you about any documents needed.
Convalidation is not simply a blessing of an existing union, but the true exchange of consent of the spouses in free, total, faithful, and life-giving love.
Contact the rectory to begin preparation and formation.
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