When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine. (And) Jesus said to her, Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servers, Do whatever he tells you. Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, Fill the jars with water. So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter. So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now. Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. -The 2nd Luminous Mystery

Marrying an Orthodox Christian

Question from John R. on 4/11/2008:

While marrying an Orthodox Christian no longer poses a canonical impediment for the Catholic Church, it still does for the Orthodox partner. Orthodox canon law forbids an Orthodox Christian from marrying outside of the Orthodox Church.

The marriage would be regarded as valid by the Catholic Church; however, it would be considered invalid by the Orthodox. Unlike in Latin Catholic belief, the Orthodox believe the priest confers the sacrament on the couple, and some, although not all, Orthodox jurisdictions reject the validity of Catholic sacraments including baptism.

Just as in the Catholic Church, the Orthodox require affirmation that children coming from a mixed marriage will be raised Orthodox. A compromise could be getting married in a Byzantine-rite Catholic parish if the Orthodox is willing to convert.

Answer by Robert J. Flummerfelt, J.C.L. on 4/18/2008:
Hi John R.,

I appreciate what you have written. I like the fact that you note that indeed not all Orthodox consider marriages to Catholics as invalid. It is not a black and white thing - it depends on which Orthodox Church.

Just a simple point of reference, please note that for Eastern Catholics, the theology and law supports the contention that it is a combination of the consent of the parties AND the priestly [sacerdotal] blessing which CONFECTS the sacrament on the parties. The Latin Church teaches it is the consent of the parties, but the Eastern Catholic Churches teach a little more - stating that consent PLUS the priestly blessing is necessary for validity.

Just a point of clarification.

Thanks for listening.

Peace and blessings, Bob

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