Nuptial Mass for a mixed marriage

[roseofsharon]

When a Roman Catholic marries a non-baptized person, is it permissible to have the marriage performed by a Catholic priest during a Nuptial Mass and to receive theNuptial Blessing?

[Br. Rich SFO]

Originally Posted by roseofsharon

When a Roman Catholic marries a non-baptized person, is it permissible to have the marriage performed by a Catholic priest during a Nuptial Mass and to receive theNuptial Blessing?

Yes, it's permitted. Consideration today is made however on how many non-Catholics might be present and would not be able to receive Communion and specifically the non-Catholic spouse.

A form of the Nuptial Blessing is available for the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass also.

[puzzleannie]

Do bear in mind that some priests will strenuously advise against this, particularly if there are non-Catholic family members whose feelings should be considered, and some priests who as a matter of policy will not celebrate a nuptial Mass in these circumstances. he is within his rights as pastor, but you may have to look to find a priest you can work with on this.

[roseofsharon]

Thank you for your response. Is this true for the universal Church? What was the reason for the drastic change? Formerly a mixed marriage had to be celebrated outside the sanctuary, heighlighting the seriousness of one's marrying someone with a very different faith. Since the mixed marriage can now take place within a Nuptial Mass, will the Catholic party have sufficient appreciation how difficult it may be within a marriage where the spouses fail to agree on esential points of religion? This is especially true when one is a Catholic and the other is a non-Christian. Can this not lend itself to the idea that "one religion is as good as another" - which "Dominus Deus" clearly rejects?

Originally Posted by Br. Rich SFO

Yes, it's permitted. Consideration today is made however on how many non-Catholics might be present and would not be able to receive Communion and specifically the non-Catholic spouse.

A form of the Nuptial Blessing is available for the Rite of Marriage outside of Mass also.

[Br. Rich SFO]

Originally Posted by roseofsharon

Thank you for your response. Is this true for the universal Church? What was the reason for the drastic change? Formerly a mixed marriage had to be celebrated outside the sanctuary, heighlighting the seriousness of one's marrying someone with a very different faith. Since the mixed marriage can now take place within a Nuptial Mass, will the Catholic party have sufficient appreciation how difficult it may be within a marriage where the spouses fail to agree on esential points of religion? This is especially true when one is a Catholic and the other is a non-Christian. Can this not lend itself to the idea that "one religion is as good as another" - which "Dominus Deus" clearly rejects?

There is a great difference between a Catholic/ non-Christian and a Catholic/ Non-Catholic Baptized Christian Marriage. One is a Sacrament, the other is not. One can be celebrated within Mass the other cannot.

It represents the trend today of most Marriages in the Catholic Church (those that are even celebrated in the Catholic Church) being Catholic / Non-Catholic Protestant.

[Cristiano]

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

Do bear in mind that some priests will strenuously advise against this, particularly if there are non-Catholic family members whose feelings should be considered, and some priests who as a matter of policy will not celebrate a nuptial Mass in these circumstances. he is within his rights as pastor, but you may have to look to find a priest you can work with on this.

In our parish the Deacons are responsible to celebrate a "mixed" marriage. That implies the lack of a Nuptial Mass.

[THurifer2]

I think it is a VERY bad idea...My suggestion would be for the Non-Catholic to be recieved into the church then have the nuptial Mass.

I am sorry but In a nuptial mass when one of the party Recieves our Lord and the Other doesn't just seem right. The church may have been correct in the past when it was not OK to do such a thing. When the two become one and then turn around and only one can recieve contradicts the unity of Marriage especially in relation to the two with Christ.

[roseofsharon]

Originally Posted by Br. Rich SFO

There is a great difference between a Catholic/ non-Christian and a Catholic/ Non-Catholic Baptized Christian Marriage. One is a Sacrament, the other is not. One can be celebrated within Mass the other cannot.

It represents the trend today of most Marriages in the Catholic Church (those that are even celebrated in the Catholic Church) being Catholic / Non-Catholic Protestant.

I attended a marriage recently between a Catholic man and a non-Christian whose one parent is Jewish and the other is Buddhist. It took place within a Nuptial Mass with a Nuptial Blessing in a Catholic Church. I was very concerned about this. You say that this is illicit? Please advise. Thank you!

[roseofsharon]

I'm still in the dark as to the liceity of celebrating a Nuptial Mass when one person is a Roman Catholic and the other has no religion (but whose mother is Jewish and whose father is a Boddhist). Please advise.

[benedictgal]

Originally Posted by roseofsharon

I'm still in the dark as to the liceity of celebrating a Nuptial Mass when one person is a Roman Catholic and the other has no religion (but whose mother is Jewish and whose father is a Boddhist). Please advise.

That person I think needs either a Pauline or a Petrine privilege. It's not that a Nuptial Mass is illicit in such cases, but you have to examine the practicality.

When I was helping at RCIA, a couple preparing for marriage were taking the course. The groom-to-be was not baptized so he was preparing for Baptism. Now, their wedding day was before the Easter Vigil (it was actually a convalidation) and he was baptized immediately before the Nuptial Mass. It was kind of funny because the bride didn't want her groom to see her. The priest said, "It's okay. It's just a myth. Besides, I think it's more important that you're there to see him baptized." I believe the mother-in-law was the sponsor.

Nonetheless, after he got baptized, we began with the entrance hymn and everything went off without a hitch.

But, do check on the Pauline and Petrine privlieges. I think that the Petrine, by nature of the name, must come from Rome. I think that the Pauline is granted by the Bishop. Perhaps people in this thread who are more versed and much smarter than I can clear up the matter of the privileges.

[Joe Kelley]

Originally Posted by benedictgal

That person I think needs either a Pauline or a Petrine privilege. It's not that a Nuptial Mass is illicit in such cases, but you have to examine the practicality.

When I was helping at RCIA, a couple preparing for marriage were taking the course. The groom-to-be was not baptized so he was preparing for Baptism. Now, their wedding day was before the Easter Vigil (it was actually a convalidation) and he was baptized immediately before the Nuptial Mass. It was kind of funny because the bride didn't want her groom to see her. The priest said, "It's okay. It's just a myth. Besides, I think it's more important that you're there to see him baptized." I believe the mother-in-law was the sponsor.

Nonetheless, after he got baptized, we began with the entrance hymn and everything went off without a hitch.

But, do check on the Pauline and Petrine privlieges. I think that the Petrine, by nature of the name, must come from Rome. I think that the Pauline is granted by the Bishop. Perhaps people in this thread who are more versed and much smarter than I can clear up the matter of the privileges.

Pauline and Petrine privileges are ways to dissolve a non-sacramental marriage when one of the parties wishes to remarry in the Church. They are alternatives to the annulment process and have nothing to do with the marriage ceremony.

[benedictgal]

Originally Posted by Joe Kelley

Pauline and Petrine privileges are ways to dissolve a non-sacramental marriage when one of the parties wishes to remarry in the Church. They are alternatives to the annulment process and have nothing to do with the marriage ceremony.

Thank you. That was dumb of me.

[Joe Kelley]

Originally Posted by benedictgal

Thank you. That was dumb of me.

No problem. I just wanted to stop the idea from propagating.