It’s easy to think of the Sacrament of Marriage as a source of hope during this Jubilee Year. After all, who could watch newlyweds be pronounced man and wife and not feel the thrill of blessed hope in their future marriage?
It may be surprising, then, to consider that annulment – which is after all the opposite of marriage – also is a source of Catholic hope.
Annulment is the process by which the Church declares that a marriage, which was thought to be valid according to Church law, actually fell short of at least one essential element required for a binding union.
Consider the case of Susan (not her real name to respect her privacy). Her first marriage ended in divorce after her spouse was unfaithful. So she petitioned the Church Tribunal and received a Declaration of Nullity, and she is now happily married a second time.
“In this ‘Year of Hope,’ the Church celebrates the glorious ways that Jesus grants to us His compassion, His mercy, and indeed His hope,” said Monsignor Victor Finelli, Judicial Vicar in the Diocesan Tribunal. It’s at the Tribunal where annulment applications are considered.
“We see this in a special way when a couple who, after celebrating a Sacramental Marriage, and through whatever circumstance the marriage was terminated civilly through divorce, seeks the mercy of the Church to restore hope in their faith,” he said.
“An annulment is a blessing to the Church and, in a special way, a blessing to those who seek it,” said Monsignor Finelli. “An annulment is one of the means in which the Church brings hope to those who may be hopeless and for them to know that Jesus loves them and that the Church stands with them.”
With regard to marriage, National Marriage Week is Feb. 7-14 this year, with World Marriage Sunday falling on Feb. 9. This year’s theme is “Marriage: Source of Hope, Spring of Renewal. Pursue a Lasting Love!”
“The openness to life, growing in unity with one another, and growing closer to Christ both spiritually and in receiving the Eucharist all are graces that flow from the embodiment of the Sacrament of Marriage,” said Rhady Tulloch, Diocesan Director of Marriage and Family Life.
“For those who are a witness to the Sacrament, the couple serves as pilgrims of hope for their community. Living out their Sacramental vows in the everyday, everywhere they go, is a testament to the importance of the Sacrament and the truth of our faith.”
Several events throughout the year are designed to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage and the hope it engenders, said Tulloch:
- The Wedding Anniversary Mass is an opportunity for all Catholic married couples to celebrate their "Yes" of the Sacrament and renew their vows as a community. Held every September, it provides accountability and a renewed spirit of hope for the relationship.
- Date nights are an annual opportunity for all Catholic couples, both engaged and married, to celebrate their union. They allow for fellowship and include the witness of a couple who share a talk on a topic that fosters marriage enrichment.
- Natural Family Planning (NFP) information sessions and fellowship, for engaged and married couples of childbearing age, foster personal witness and discussion. They are scheduled several times a year in various locations in the Diocese.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops provides more detailed information on annulment and on marriage on their website.
https://www.usccb.org/topics/marriage-and-family-life-ministries/annulment
https://www.usccb.org/topics/marriage-and-family-life-ministries/marriage-and-family
By Paul Wirth
