Marriage Convalidation

If you as a couple have married outside the Church and now wish to have your marriage validated (blessed), your understanding and appreciation of the sacrament you are entering will be deepened through marriage preparation. Therefore, the Diocese of Superior requires that couples approaching the Church for validation of their marriage must participate in an appropriate marriage preparation process before the marriage is validated.

The spiritual benefits of convalidation are obvious. Catholics can approach the altar with peace of heart and mind, knowing that they are coming back into full communion and are once again are welcome to partake in the reception of the Eucharist.
Five Steps for Convalidation
1. First, all Catholic spouses must produce new copies of their certificates of baptism. These can be obtained by requesting a copy of the baptismal record from the parish where the person was baptized, indicating the name of the individual (as well as the names of the parents), date of birth and approximate baptismal date. This usually takes a few days.

2. It may be necessary to seek an annulment (or declaration of nullity) from any previous marriages, if the former spouse is not deceased. A favorable decision is needed before a convalidation ceremony can be scheduled. The priest, or a delegate, will help the petitioner with this process. There is a shorter form for any Catholic who was not married by a Catholic Priest/Deacon or with the Bishop’s permission his Delegate (usually a Minister of another church). A formal annulment is usually not required in this case. The diocesan tribunal ordinarily processes that application in a few days and returns to the petitioner a declaration of nullity based on what is called a “lack of canonical form.

3. Canon law also requires some kind of preparation for entering the sacrament of marriage

4. Attend the sacrament of reconciliation to confess and repent.

5. Determine the date, time and most suitable type of Convalidation service.
- Most couples opt for a simple ceremony where they renew their consent to the marriage, reaffirming their continued love and commitment before God and the Church.
When One Spouse Does not Participate

Occasionally it happens that one spouse does not wish to participate in a convalidation ceremony, considering in his or her own mind that the marriage is already valid because the two have publicly exchanged their mutual consent previously. In such cases, the Church can recognize the marriage on paper in what is known as sanatio in radice, which means “healing in the root.” The necessary documents are assembled and the diocesan bishop proclaims in writing that the union is indeed valid.