A reader writes:
Hypothetical;
A non-catholic couple, married in a civil ceremony.
Wife of couple expresses an interest in the Catholic Faith. However, she is concerned that while her husband would not be unecessarily difficult, he would want as little to do with the matter as possible.
What would need to take place in terms of convalidation?
Nothing. At least, nothing given the fact pattern you have mentioned. If two non-Catholics get married, they are not bound to observe the Catholic form of marriage and thus are presumed to be validly married unless there is something else affecting the situation (like one of them having been previously married to someone else, in which case they need an annulment but probably even then they don’t need a convalidation). I’m just not hearing anything that would trigger a need for a convalidation.
Would this take place privately at the parish (not during a Mass, for example)
Convalidations are typically private, with just a few people (witnesses) present.
What role would the husband be expected to play
Be the husband.
(other than being the husband! )?
Oh, uh . . . nothing then.
Would the husband be expected to go to private discussions with the parish priest in preparation for the event. etc (this couple have been married for a looooong time 🙂
Okay, this ain’t sounding so hypothetical any more. Not that that makes any difference. The answers are still of general educational value, one way or ‘tuther.
The answer, though, will probably vary from place to place. When my wife and I had our marriage convalidated, there was no pre-marriage prep as we’d already been living as man and wife for several years, but that might be different in other places. I couldn’t say.
how soon after a convalidation would the wifes reception into the church take place….
Thus far I haven’t heard that a convalidation is even necessary, but if one were then there would not need to be any waiting period before reception into the Church, assuming that the wife had already taken whatever instruction in the Catholic faith her situation would require.
oh, I’ve just thought of something else….what if the husband was baptised in an emergency situation as a baby and has no certificate…but also no desire to be Catholic?
Doesn’t make any difference as far as the need for a convalidation. As long as he wasn’t formally a member of the Catholic Church at the time of the ceremony, he wasn’t bound by form. If a convalidation were needed, though, he would need to be informed of the wife’s obligation to do her best to see that any kids that result from the union get raised Catholic.
Also, the conjugal relations stuff (sorry but I have to ask)… would the wife, if she were received into the faith,need to confess having sexual relations with her husband if the marriage has been convalidated
If a convalidation is not needed then there is no need to confess prior sexual relations (unless they occurred after the wife’s baptism, if she’s already baptized, and before the marriage ceremony).
If a convalidation is needed (for some reason I can’t fathom given the fact pattern as described) then the wife would need to confess prior sexual relations with the husband IF she believed them to be gravely sinful at the time and did them with deliberate consent of the will. Otherwise, they weren’t mortal sins and don’t need to be confessed.
Hope this helps! . . . er, hypothetically speaking, that is. 🙂