stable marriage. . . . A Christian couple needs first of all to show signs of human readiness for marriage." Later he writes what might be the result if such readiness is lacking. While "the vows of matrimony bind two Christians to an unconditioned love. . . . An investigation of a failed marriage might reveal that the original marriage commitment lacked sacramentality either (1) because the contracting parties did not possess the personal maturity in faith required to enter into a Christian marriage covenant or (2) because they had failed to discern adequately their charismatic call to marital union with one another. Non-sacramental marriages can be annulled."
In order to try to ensure that maturity, most Catholic Churches prescribe a waiting period of at least six months. During that time the couple are both completing paperwork and undergoing counseling with a priest.
As one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic church, "In the Latin Rite the celebration of marriage between two Catholic faithful normally takes place during Holy Mass, because of the connection to all the sacraments with the Paschal mystery of Christ." Additionally, they are assumed to be "free to contract marriage" which means "not being under constraint" and "not impeded by any natural or ecclesiastical law." The most obvious ecclesiastical law is "disparity of cult" or differing denominations. "Difference of confession between the spouses does not const
...