Only Catholics were married at Mass on the altar. Pre-Vatican females were not allowed inside the Communion rail. Catholic/non-Catholic marriages were conducted by the priest outside the Communion rail. . .that could be in the church building or in the rectory. So, your aunt was married in the Church. The blessing was for those who had "attempted civil marriage" and wanted to square their position in the Church. A marriage by civil authority did not count on the record of a Catholic so that the full sacrament could be administered. However, there was no breaking of the sacramental marriage except by death. To leave such a marriage by divorce meant that the Catholic was not allowed to receive the Sacraments (Holy Eucharist, etc.) An ecclesiastical annulment could be pursued. 1) Mixed Religion—A marriage between a Catholic and a validly baptized non-Catholic 2) Disparity of Cult or Worship—A marriage of a Catholic to a non-baptized person 3) Consanguinity—Forbids marriage between third cousins or any nearer degree of kindred 4) Affinity—It is forbidden to marry the third cousin of any near blood relation of a deceased husband or wife 5) Spiritual Affinity—A species of relationship contracted by means of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation where parents cannot marry the sponsor of a child or the person who baptized it; nor can sponsors marry their godchildren 6) The dispensation most frequently requested was dispensation from Banns. In order to place a check upon clandestine marriages, to discover any impediments which may exist, to prevent deceptions and surprises, to afford parents and others interested an opportunity to interpose if needful, and to procure the prayers of the faithful that God may give grace and prosperity to the contracting parties, the Council of Trent (1545-63) decreed that the promise of marriage be published on three successive Sundays or holidays at the principal Mass by the parish priest of the parties. "Marriage Dispensations: An Untapped Source for Catholics and Non-Catholics" by Joseph Silinonte explains the rules and published more than 40,000 dispensations granted by Bishop Loughlin for the Diocese of Brooklyn between 1859 and 1891. He omitted one other: the marriage should be conducted in the bride's parish. Dispensation records are important because there is little or no information for that time period (1850-1890)about those immigrants. A friend brought up an interesting aspect regarding pre-marital pregnancy. A priest could refuse to marry a couple if a pregnancy existed as he could consider it to be an impediment to the contract. So much for "shotgun" marriage! I don't know if the marriage could be blessed at a later date. The Pope, not the Bishop, could grant a dispensation for a non-Christian and a Catholic to marry. Thus, the Catholic was bound by the Church rules re marriage and could not invoke the Pauline Privilege regarding Catholic and non baptized people. My goodness, this has really opened a large can of worms. I am constantly confused by the changes brought about by Vatican II. My father was buried from Mass although he had been denied the Sacraments for 40 years because of a divorce from my mother and his subsequent civil marriage. Ellen Lsnehring@aol.com wrote: >Also....if you were a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic....many times the >priest did not allow u to get married in the church. My aunt and uncle had to be >content with being married in a side chapel, which was considered "kind of" in >the church and "kind of" not in 1937. By the time they had their 50th - he had >become Catholic and my aunt's dearest wish of being blessed in the church as >a married couple was fulfilled. > >So much, then as now, depended on the individual priest and how much he >allowed in HIS church. > __________________________________________________________________ New! Unlimited Netscape Internet Service. Only $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Act now to get a personalized email address! Netscape. Just the Net You Need.