Catholics are required to attend Pre-Cana sessions (basically it’s pre-marriage counseling) before they can get married in the Church. We had some group sessions, but most of them were just the two of us with the priest. Those ended up being my favorite. There was no discussion of faith or marriage. Instead, the priest educated us on how badly the Irish were treated when they came to the USA--specifically his family. It was interesting the first session, but after that it got a little old. I was bored until the final get together. That is when he got down to business.That last night the priest told us we would need to bring our baptismal certificates to the church the day of the wedding. My bride spoke up to say she didn’t have one. She had never been baptized. That’s when it got really interesting.
The priest turned to me and said, “Richard, congratulations. Since she’s never been baptized you can get out of the marriage anytime you want.” I started to laugh, but I saw the look on someone’s face and realized it was not the time. So I asked him what he meant. He said, “Since she’s a heathen, you can annul the marriage anytime you want.” I smiled, but only because I thought this would be something fun to tease my bride about someday. Not today, but maybe someday. Maybe.
As we walked to our car later she had a death-grip on my arm. She said, "Well, I guess this makes you happy. I saw that smile. You can get out anytime you want!" Very innocently I responded, "Shouldn't you wait until after I'm IN it before you tease me about wanting to get OUT?" She started crying. Getting married is an emotional experience and she had additional stress because her mom was really sick at the time. I gave her all the reassurance I could.
The reassurance was nice, but she wanted something more concrete. She signed up for Catholic education classes and was baptized 3 years later along with our daughter. Her crazy motivation aside, it was sweet. =)
She brings this up occasionally...and I'm afraid I can't help myself. I have to tease her. When she mentions it I either say, "You were too late, it doesn't count" or simply "Getting baptized is not retroactive!" Then she smacks my arm and we both laugh! She knows it's innocent teasing--I wouldn't do anything to upset the owner of that death-grip!!! LOL
Funny stuff.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding where the guy gets baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church in order to get married.
Aww how very sweet, this story made me smile and warm all over :)
ReplyDeleteI admire your wife for letting herself baptized according to your religion. may the two of you be blessed by the Good Lord forever...
ReplyDeleteCatholic Churches follow the same Canon Law right? Now I know it is easy to annul catholic church marriages here in the Phil than to annul it with court's decision.
Here in the Phil, a couple must undergo 2 sets of annulment of marriage, an annulment from the catholic church, if the couple are born catholics, and must undergo court proceedings for annulment of marriage.
church annulment is so easy here. however, our law do not make it easy for the couple to remarry again since a court decision is a must, or else someone would be charged for bigamy. haha!
LOL! That is so great that she got baptized!! Now you can't get out Richard! ;) Not that you'd want to anyway. Marriage is wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteclothedmuch.blogspot.com
awww cuteeee!!
ReplyDeletenever knew about that rule though... im Catholic but my bf's non practicing buddhist sooo i guess if i ever get sick of him if/when we get married, i can just have it annulled easy lol j/k
<3
The priest would've made a big difference to our church congregation during each mass. He's so cute and fun.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a born Catholic and when I married hubby, I went thru the same sessions. It was so boring for the both of us, more so when Father John wasn't half or even quarter as fun as yours.
It's so interesting reading about what Catholics have to do when they get married. My family's buddhist/atheist so I haven't been educated in that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteBetter not tease your wife too much. women dont only have death grips. we have death slaps, and death stares, and death scratches too! haha
Hahaha! Too late Rick, now you can't get out. :-) I'm also a Catholic and yes, the baptismal certificate is a major requirement.
ReplyDeleteoh catholics...always telling us about our sins, calling others "heathens" when really they have no right. don't worry, i can say this as i was baptized catholic. haha.
ReplyDeleteawwww... what a cute story. And now you guys live happily ever after. =) I'm a catholic too. Well, actually, most people in the Philippines are catholics. And they have to go through seminars before they get married. =) On this month of love may your marriage continue to grow stronger with more love and happiness. =)
ReplyDeleteWow! It's interesting all the hoops Catholicism makes one jump through. I was raised catholic so I know. It's so sweet she got baptized too.
ReplyDeletesuch a sweet story!!
ReplyDeletei would not like being called a heathen--i would cry too! lol good thing you know your place...lol
ReplyDeleteHahaha..you two are the sweetest couple, aside of the death-grip, hehe..
ReplyDeleteI've done one session of the church marriage counceling last week, and well it's quite fun..
Hello, I've been busy these past few days... Good thing my mom and dad are back in each others arms again after two years of separation... Want to know more, visit my current post....
ReplyDeletehttp://passionatestar92.blogspot.com/2010/02/blessings-for-my-parents.html (Dad's Seattle and Vancouver Trip)
THANKS!
you never failed to make me laugh.
ReplyDeletebut im not a catholic so im little out of place here:)
haha...
~waiting for the # 2!
This must be true love!
ReplyDeleteI really respect your wife for getting herself baptized for you!
So, don't tease her anymore! :-)))
That's a wondeful picture of the church!
Gosh...! you had a lots of funny story about you life experience you could..start writing about it...
ReplyDeleteI like the way you describe the priest of what he telling you...hehehehe!...
Thanks for dropping by to comment and happy blogging..
sorry I don´t believe in marriage specially in church...
So, even if your wife wasn't baptized at the time of the wedding, you still got married. Hmmm..my friend's hubby is going to get baptized in a Catholic church in the Philippines in order for them to get married there, he has to..otherwise, there would be no wedding at church for them. They're already married thru civil.
ReplyDeleteYour wife must really love you and respect your religion for her to get baptized. I believe you have a great marriage.
a.k.a Rodliz
haha, that was funny. But nevertheless, bravo for your wife...it is never an easy decision to make. Catholicism is a big leap, if you weren't one originally.
ReplyDeleteI kinda remember your encounter with the trucker when I was posing for that pic. So I have to have the attitude. Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, I hope my furture husband doesn't do that to me (if I get married to a Cathloic). I haven't been baptized either, so I hope it doesn't turn out to be a problem later on.
ReplyDelete&& Now to your comment you let me...
You may think that I'm thin, but did you know that it's fairly easy to play with camera angles or move my body in a certain position so that I appear thin? lol Get it!?
Okay, okay I doubt you're buying any of it. But seriously though, I'm sort of a porker when it comes to food. There was a whole case of donuts two days ago & lasst night my sister got mad at my dad and was like "HEY! Why did you eat all the donuts!? There were so many in here and now they're all gone!!" LOL & just in comparison to how I looked a couple of years ago, I've gained a bit of weight. so that's why I say I'm a bit chunky. :)
hahaha! you tease your wife too much! i wouldn't wanna mess with her with that death grip!!! ;P glad you guys can joke around and have fun with each other though, thats always important in a marriage!
ReplyDeletethat's a sweet story. you are lucky to have found someone like her.
ReplyDelete