You are probably here because you are a Catholic widow interested in remarrying or maybe just curious, whatever your purpose, you are in the right place! In this blog post, we will answer one of the most common questions, Can Catholic Widows Remarry?
The Holy Matrimony
The Holy Matrimony is one of the Sacraments in the Catholic Church.
According to the Catechism,
CCC 1601 The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.
Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. It is unbreakable.
Divorce and Annulment
Divorce is not allowed in the Church. It is a grave matter for it dissolves marriage.
CCC 2384 Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery: If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another’s husband to herself.
On the other hand, the Church allows annulment for it declares the marriage to be invalid since the beginning.
Remarriage
The Catholic Church allows remarriage for certain circumstances, annulment of a previous marriage, and the death of a spouse.
In the first case, the Church requires annulment of previous marriage. Take note, annulment. The Church does not allow divorce because it is a grave sin. Thus, remarriage for divorced individuals is not possible.
In the second case, the death of a spouse dissolves the previous marriage, thus remarrying is possible.
Just like a new marriage, remarriage must adhere to the process of the Church.
Remarriage of a Widow
Now that we know that remarriage is not prohibited in the Catholic Church, let’s answer the topic question.
Can Catholic Widows Remarry?
Yes. Widows can remarry in the Catholic Church. However, it is only possible if the widows do not have or annulled previous marriages.
Additionally, they will have to participate in pre-marital counseling with a priest or other qualified counselor to ensure that they are ready for the commitment of a new marriage.
Unlike those who underwent a divorce, a widow who remarried in accordance with the Church can receive the Sacraments specifically the Eucharist.
Conclusion
Remarriage can happen in the Catholic Church but is subject to conditions. The faithful should be mindful of the process they will have to undergo. At the end of the day, we need to be holy so following Christ through the Church is still the best thing to do.
Sacraments are important to us for they bring us closer to Christ, thus, we should do our best to be able to receive them.
If you are a widow, considering remarriage, go to your priest, discuss it with him, and listen to what he will tell you.
That we may always receive Christ in His Sacraments, Loving Mother, pray for us.