Many on this forum know my past and my story. The short version, I was in an 18 year marriage that ended in divorce back in 2018. I don't need to get into the details of the past because it is the past. I went through the annulment process in the church that lasted about 16 months. I know many may feel that there are too many annulments or the process is quick but I will tell you that I do not share that view having gone through it and also I don't share the view that there are too many annulments. In fact I feel that in the world many Catholic marriages if not most since the 1980's are not valid. Why do I feel this way? Well I was one of them. I was a cradle Catholic, went to Catholic school up until the 6th grade. I did not know the faith at all. My family stopped going to church, so then I did as well. When it was time to get married, I was 23 years old, married another Catholic girl that I knew from my younger days, but we weren't practicing Catholics before or after our marriage. We got married in the church because that is all we knew to do. Fast forward 20 or so years later and while going trough the annulment process, one of the very first questions asked was, "did you think you could get a divorce?" Yes was my answer and we almost were divorced in our second year of marriage. I had no idea you couldn't get a divorce. The many questions were very detailed and the process behind the scenes is very thorough. This among many other reasons rendered my marriage invalid due to immaturity and understanding of what the sacrament of marriage really meant. How many more out there especially in the US are like me? My guess is many. But let's bring us to today. This Saturday, I get to say I do to a wonderful, Catholic woman who went through a very similar, awful marriage situation with their former spouse as I did. We are so excited to be able to go into the church, before God, our family and friends with full knowledge of this sacrament and commitment to not only each other and our combined families now, but to God as well. I ask all my family here to pray for us. Pray for our marriage and pray that our love for God and each other only grows stronger as our days and life together moves forward. Thank you my friends and may God Bless all of you!!
Oh Andy, Our Lord has blessed you two, how wonderful for you to find each other! Prayers for your wedding and a blessed Life together!
Andy, you have been through a lot! Your present commitment to the Lord is a wonderful gift to bring to your marriage. It appears to be the same for your spouse-to-be. Blessings to you both, and much joy. Geralyn and I are about to pray the Luminous Mysteries. The Wedding Feast of Cana will be for the two of you! Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Congratulations Andy, to both you and your fiance! What a wonderful blessing you have received. May you share many, many happy years together. God Bless you both.
Andy this is wonderful news. May God bless you in very real and concrete ways. May the Holy Spirit "glue" you together. I will keep you in my prayers.
Thinking of you and your beloved with prayers on your rehearsal night. At least, it might be your rehearsal night.
