Catholic Marriage is unique among other marital relationships because it is a sacrament that makes Christ present in our world. The relationship between husband and wife mirrors the relationship of Jesus Christ for his people. In the Catholic tradition, the husband and wife accept a role in God’s plan for humanity. They are ambassadors of God’s love, and they collaborate with God to keep humanity alive.

The vows exchanged by the couple are a sacred pact through which the spouses embrace each other, and, together, embrace Jesus as their partner. Through their union with Christ, they participate in the unbreakable pact between God and humanity: the covenant that was sealed in the death and resurrection of Christ. [ForYourMarriage.org]

The Church very much welcomes civilly married Catholics to enter into valid Catholic marriage. When these couples are ready and free to do so, they celebrate what is called a convalidation. This is sometimes referred to as the “blessing” of a marriage, but it is much more than that.

A convalidation is not simply the renewal of the consent previously exchanged in another setting but is the new act of genuine consent by each spouse and the creation of a true marriage. A convalidation is not simply a “blessing” of an invalid union. It is a publicly made commitment and exchange of vows made in the sight of the Christian community. The words of consent express the gift of self that the couple exchanges. It is important to note that the ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage are the spouses themselves. Therefore, convalidation calls for a full and complete preparation and one that takes into consideration the different needs for a couple in this circumstance. 

The process of having a civil marriage validated in the Church is similar to the process for any other couple getting sacramentally married in the church.

The first and most important step toward sacramental marriage is to contact your local parish for an appointment with your pastor or his delegate (e.g. parochial vicar, deacon) to discuss your situation and determine next steps. Do not set a wedding date ahead of time or reserve a reception venue until after discussing arrangements with the parish.

In this meeting the priest or deacon will go over the process with you. If there is a prior marriage for either party, he will help you seek a Church declaration of nullity. He will also help you to gather the necessary paperwork for the Pre-Nuptial Investigation. He will also discern with you the most appropriate formation program to prepare you for the Sacrament of Marriage. Once this preparation process is underway, you will work with the parish to determine the actual date for your ceremony.

The couple will need to provide or complete the following:

• Sacramental records: newly-issued Baptismal certificates, copies of certificates for Confirmation and First Holy Communion (for Catholics)
• Evidence/testimony of freedom to marry in the church: Letters of Freedom to Marry, decree of nullity if applicable for any prior marriages
• Civil marriage license, or if already married civilly, a copy of the marriage certificate
• Pre-Nuptial Investigation, completed by a priest or deacon at your parish with you
• Sacramental preparation program: usually involves a pre-marital inventory; formational sessions at a workshop, retreat, or courses; and celebration of sacraments such as Reconciliation

For the ceremony, a convalidation is a true celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, and so it follows the Catholic Church’s Order of Celebrating Matrimony. The rite may be celebrated within Mass or outside of Mass, depending on the particular situation of the couple. If both are Catholic, the nuptial Mass is recommended so that the first meal shared by the sacramentally married couple is the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.

Note: The above information is intended to give a basic overview of the convalidation process. Because every couple’s situation is unique, persons interested in pursuing a convalidation and/or a declaration of nullity should speak with their parish priest or a professional at the diocesan Tribunal.

One of the many benefits of a sacramental marriage is the power of God’s grace, which helps couples keep their commitment and find happiness together. Social scientists are finding that couples who recognize God’s presence in their relationship experience more satisfaction and are more likely to achieve lifelong marriage.

All in all, couples who choose to bring their marriage into the Church receive many gifts – peace of heart, oneness with the Church, the fullness of the sacraments, and God’s special blessing upon their marriage. [ForYourMarriage.org]

Through convalidation, the Church invites Catholics who had been living in invalid marriages to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church. All people are welcome to attend Mass, but receiving Holy Communion is for those who are fully participating in the life of the Church (free from mortal sin and committed to faithfully living as a disciple of Christ). The convalidation process, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, prepares Catholic spouses to return to receiving Our Lord Jesus in Holy Communion.

Contact your parish priest to get started!

In the simplest terms, if a Catholic wishes to marry in the Church when there has been a previous marriage for either party, the partner in the earlier union must have died or the Church must have issued a declaration of nullity (frequently called an annulment) of the previous marriage.

Those wishing to marry in the Church who were in a previous non-sacramental marriage (a good and natural marriage) need to have their previous marriage investigated by the Church through a Church tribunal. A good and natural marriage occurs between two unbaptized persons or between a baptized person and unbaptized person. The Church teaches that both Christian marriages (sacramental) and good and natural marriages (non-sacramental) are one and indissoluble by the natural law. The Church presumes the validity of these “good and natural” unions and, therefore, requires a process of investigation to see if an essential ingredient in the relationship was missing from the start of the previous marriage.

For Catholics with a prior marriage outside the Church, the declaration of nullity is based on what is called a “lack of canonical form.” For Catholics with a prior “valid” marriage, the tribunal process is termed a “formal case.” Catholics should consult with their pastor if a declaration of nullity is needed. [MARRIAGE VALIDATION | Diocese of Boise (catholicidaho.org)]

Three things need to be in place for a true (valid) marriage: capacity, consent, and canonical form. A valid Catholic marriage comes into existence when a man and woman who are capable, give consent to a true marriage, including all the essential properties of marriage, and exchange this consent in the proper form for Catholic weddings.

Convalidation is not simply a “blessing” of an existing union. It requires that a new, free act of consent be made.

1. Capacity

• Psychological capacity (emotional maturity and stability)
• Physical capacity
• Freedom from impediments (e.g. a prior marriage, vows in a religious order, etc.)

2. Consent

• To a lifelong marriage
• To an exclusive marriage
• To a marriage that is open to children

3. Canonical Form

• To be married in the presence of a Catholic bishop, or a priest or deacon delegated by either the pastor or bishop, and two witnesses according to the Order of Celebrating Matrimony.

NOTE: Special permission is required for Catholics to marry in a place other than their parish church.

[Convalidation: Bringing Your Marriage Into The Church - For Your Marriage]