Can we get married during Lent in the Catholic Church? Can Catholics be Prohibited from Marrying in Lent?

A: I am engaged to a non-Catholic.We want to have a wedding in December.Due to the school holiday, December is the only time when my relatives are around.

My priest told me that the church does not allow weddings during Advent.He is strict with procedure.The priest said that the DIOCESE wouldn't solemnize marriages in Advent.

There is a parish that allows weddings during Advent.My parish does not allow weddings.I think it is unfair.

I would marry my fiancée in a non-Catholic church.A Catholic wedding is important to me.I don't want to give up.I want my wedding to be valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.Henry.

The question is related to Lent, which is currently upon us, but it does not refer to the Advent season.In some parts of the world, Catholics are told that they can't marry during these times because they are not appropriate for a wedding.It is impossible to put together statistics on this, but it seems to vary from parish to parish.What is going on here?If the faithful have the right to schedule their weddings during Lent or Advent, why not?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Catholics have, in general, a right.The general rule was first articulated in the section of the code detailing the obligations and rights of all the faithful.The Christian faithful have the right to spiritual goods of the Church, among which it specifically mentions the sacraments.

The chapter of the code talks about the sacraments themselves.Canon 843.1 states that Catholics can receive the sacraments if they ask for them and are properly dispose of.In some instances, the faithful could be refused the sacraments if they did not request them at an appropriate time.If we assume that Henry is a practicing Catholic, and that he and his fiancée have completed, or are willing to complete, any necessary preparation-program mandated by his diocese for all Catholics planning to marry, it seems reasonable to conclude that they are "properly disposed" to marriage in theThe refusal of his request was not based on his fiancée's spiritual dispositions, but rather on the time of year when they want the wedding to take place.Is it appropriate for the celebration of Catholic matrimony to take place during Advent and Lent?

There is no indication in the current Code of Canon Law that certain days of the year are off limits for weddings.There are two days when marriages may not be celebrated, according to a document published in 1988.On Good Friday, it is forbidden to celebrate the sacraments except for the Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick.The celebration of marriages is forbidden on Holy Saturday.

The document of the Congregation is meant to apply universally and cannot be ignored by the diocesan bishops.If a catholic ever asks his pastor to schedule a wedding on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, the answer must be no.Even though the document was focused on the Easter Season, and not the sacraments per se, it has still indicated that these dates constitute inopportune times for the celebration of the sacrament of matrimony.It would be in accord with canon 843.1 to refuse.

Is it possible for a diocesan bishop or a parish priest to broaden the prohibition to other times of the year when the faithful cannot marry if the Vatican has established that Catholics may not ask for the celebration of matrimony on these dates in Holy Week?No, at least not without specific permission from the Holy See.A general legal concept pertaining to the restriction of rights is the reason for this.

In the very first section of the code, Canon 18 states that laws that restrict the free exercise of rights are to be interpreted strictly.If a canon limits our right to have or do something, and a question arises as to whether or not the canon can be applied in an individual situation, the answer must involve interpreting that canon in the narrowest possible way.

Unless the law clearly permits this, the rights of the faithful cannot be limited.Any interpretation of a canon that restricts a person's rights is not permissible.The policy of telling Catholics that they can't get married for nearly an entire month (during Advent), and/or for the entire calendar period between Ash Wednesday and Easter is a policy that is not supported by canon law.

It is possible that Henry's bishop obtained special permission from Rome to forbid weddings in Advent and Lent.There may be unique cultural circumstances in that region of the world which make a ban advisable.If that is the case, then the bishop should be able to explain to the faithful of his diocese why he has it.

Something must be amiss because the policies in Henry's diocese vary from parish to parish.If the diocese had the power to impose harsher restrictions on its lay-faithful than the rest of the Church had, individual pastors would have no choice but to follow suit.It would be impossible for another parish to allow weddings during Advent.

It seems pretty safe to conclude that Henry's pastor is violating his rights, while wrongly claiming that he is following diocesan policy.If the priest merely sought to discourage weddings during Advent/Lent, explaining pastorally why another time of year would be more suitable for such a joyous occasion, then forbidding them altogether is an altogether different matter.Henry describes his pastor as strict with procedure, but this is not a question of being strict, it is a case of parishioners being denied the sacraments, with no known legal justification!

In Henry's case, we can see how arbitrary restrictions can hurt the faithful.If Henry is not allowed to marry during Advent, his family will not be able to gather for the wedding at any other time.The Church tries to avoid situations like this.If Henry were to marry in a non-Catholic wedding ceremony, without obtaining a dispensation in advance, his marriage would be invalid in the eyes of the Church because he is a Catholic.The pastor's illegal refusal to allow Henry to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony at the one time of year when he is logistically able to schedule it could result in Henry marrying invalidly elsewhere.Henry's pastor would be morally responsible for this.

While canon law permits a wedding during both Lent and Advent, the faithful are required to tone down the celebration in keeping with the more somber periods of the liturgical year.External signs such as music and flowers should be less extravagant for weddings during Advent/Lent according to the Church.In the process of making this admonition, the liturgical books acknowledge that weddings can be celebrated during these times, but they can't be the same as at other times of the year.

We can see the answer to Henry's question.Readers may be interested to know that Henry's situation has already been resolved, amicably and in full accord with canon law.Sometimes the best time to host a happy event like a wedding is during Lent and Advent.The Church permits the sacramental celebration for the spouses.

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