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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 9/22/2008


Question
Father,
I converted from Protestantism and was confirmed and received my first holy communion Easter Vigil, 2007.  My wife and I were not baptized at the time we were married in a protestant church by a protestant minister.

A few years later, we were baptized in a protestant church.  Is our marriage sacramental?  I was advised by my parish priest that it was even though we were not baptized at the time and that we didn't need to have our marriage blessed for me to be received into the church.  Is this true or should I do we need to have our marriage blessed by a priest?

By the way, my wife has been attending RCIA this year and I ask that you pray for her to come home to the Catholic church.

Thank you,
Adam

Answer
Hi, Adam:
Thanks for the question.
When you and your wife were married, provided you were both free to marry, you enjoyed a "lawful" marriage.  Then, provided that your lawful marriage was in fact valid, it became a Sacramental Marriage at the time you were both baptized.  At the time of your natural law marriage, and then your reception of Baptism, you were bound only by Divine Law, and not particular Catholic Church Law that includes "Canonical Form."  So, even when you are both received into the Catholic Church, your Sacramental Marriage perdures.  There is no requirement to have it "blessed."  If you wish, and if the Priest is willing, you may ask to renew your marriage vows, and promise fidelity together in the Sacrament of Marriage to strengthen your mutual support in living out your commitment as devout and practicing Catholics.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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