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Question
Good Morning Father,
My husband and I have been married for over 15 years. He had a previous marriage (and children). He has taken a job assignment outside of our home country for past 6 years that I cannot join due to health constraints - I have seen him once in 3 years though we keep in regular weekly contact. During his absence, I have joined the Church and due to our long separation and his lack of form prior marriage - am married/chaste at this time. However, I just read that those who due to natural reasons cannot have normal physical relations make the marriage invalid/fraud. Due to a childhood disfigurment, I cannot and although found other ways to be obedient to my husband in a wifely way - I am confused and hurt - as I love his children as my own (even though raised in a separate state by their natural mother) - it wasn't that I didn't love, care for children or serve as a maternal force in the family unit. I didn't know I was sinning against God or my husband/marriage/children.
So what does this mean for our marriage under God, when he returns stateside? Does this mean we have to continue living separate? Live as brother/sister? (He won't do that - I am pretty sure - though I would if that is what we have to) Or what?
Prayerfully
Louise
Hi, Louise:
Thank you for the question.
Based upon the information you presented that was not very detailed (and I think this is probably best not to describe in this forum), it is not possible for me to give a definitive answer. This seems to me to be a case that would be better presented in the internal and confidential forum of your local Church Marriage Tribunal if question persists. I am certain that you are a loving person. Probably the question would revolve around whether or not you have the physical capacity for specific marital or conjugal expression of love. I can only encourage you to present this case to the proper authority with the competence to answer your questions which is not myself. The mere fact that I am an ordained Priest does not allow me to assume that I can automatically make the necessary judgment in this particular case. I wish you the very best as you resolve this issue in a manner that allows you to persevere in God's grace, knowing, loving and serving Him in this world in order to be happy with Him in the next.
Blessings...
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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