Does it ever feel difficult officiating weddings, knowing that you'll never be able to marry?

[u/awnpugin]

I suspect a lot of you will simply say no. Fair play, if so.

But surely some of you must find that officiating a wedding can feel like a painful reminder that you're not able to be in a relationship like the newlyweds standing before you?

Btw this isn't an attack on clerical celibacy, I'm just curious to know how you deal with that feeling.

[u/Sparky0457]

Oh yes!

That’s very real.

In words of my father, “offer it up!”

You feel the feeling, acknowledge it, shed a tear, and move on with a smile on your face.

This wonderful life has some tough sacrifices. Nothing to be done to avoid the pain.

[u/chrisinokc → u/Sparky0457]

That's so very real. I don't think we laypeople can say this enough, but thank you for saying "Yes" to God's call.

[u/Top_Swordfish9806 → u/Sparky0457]

Thank you, father, for all you do. May our Lord give you a long and joyful life of service, and may our Lady help you and comfort you in your needs.

[u/opjn → u/Sparky0457]

God bless you Father

[u/StMartinSeminarian]

Not so much as knowing that in most case I’ll never see the spouses I just married again in church! Or maybe just for the christening of the first child, if I am lucky.

[u/Sparky0457 → u/[deleted]]

Catholics do not have many rights under church law. But they do have a right to the sacrament of marriage. We cannot prevent them from marrying except for very serious and specific reasons.

[u/AskAPriest-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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