I wish to remarry my first husband. Neither of us has remarried anyone else. We were married the first time in the Catholic church. What is the way this is done? I am unclear as to what we do in the eyes of the church. Sincerely, CB

-- chris bieber (crb1000@hotmail.com), September 20, 2002

Answers

Hello, Chris.

First things first ... Congratulations! What a wonderful thing that you can be reconciled -- and that you remained faithful to each other (at least not invalidly "remarried") while apart.

But, wow, what an interesting question you have asked! I have never come across this situation before, so I don't really know the official answer. I look forward to seeing what someone "in the know" tells you. Of course, you can call or visit your parish priest this weekend, and he will probably know (or can easily find out) what you should do.

One thing I am certain about is that you will not have another sacramental wedding ceremony in church, because the Catholic Church considers you still to be married. Since you were divorced, though, the civil authorities do not consider you married -- and you need to satisfy them somehow. I don't know if our Church will say that you simply need to "reaffirm/confirm" your vows privately (e.g., in the rectory) or if you need to profess vows anew before a civil official. [If no one answers after me, please let us know what your pastor tells you.]

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 20, 2002.

Although I am not "one in the know" about remarrying a previous spouse, I want to raise a secondary extension.

In John's answer to Chris he wrote: "One thing I am certain about is that you will not have another sacramental wedding ceremony in church, because the Catholic Church considers you still to be married."

Although Chris's original posting didn't mention anything about it, there could be an interesting complication if the previous marriage had been annulled by a marriage tribunal. [Although neither party had remarried, there could have been an anullment sought and obtained.] I am pretty sure that there would have to be "another" (actually the first) sacramental wedding ceremony. There would have to be some provision that the deficiency of the first marriage attempt had been eliminated.

If there were no decree of nullity, I assume that the previous answer about restablishing the civil marriage would be sufficent.

-- Edward Pothier (EdwardPothier@aol.com), September 20, 2002.

Thank you, Edward. I agree with you completely.
When I was writing the original reply, the possibility that you mentioned did flash through my mind. But I decided not to mention it, because I decided to assume that Chris would have referred to an "annulment," if there had been one.
I really should not have assumed that, so it is good that you decided to write about that possibility.

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 20, 2002.