The priest asked the bride and groom a stressful question at the protocol. “A crossed out marriage?”

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I am a newly made wife. I remember the period of preparation for the most important day of my life very well. I guess it’s because I wasn’t stressed too much because I wanted to experience it my way. Together with my husband, we tried to choose such service providers who would not only fulfill the entrusted tasks well, but also simply reassure us with their approach.

After some time, when some people ask me about what brought the most fear and stress, I answer without hesitation that the pre-wedding protocol. I think it was because I didn’t know what the priest might ask and whether I would be offended by any of the lines. It was also doubtful whether my husband and I would answer the questions in the same way.

We took an official oath before the protocol was written. His voice trembled because it was really solemn

We wrote the pre-wedding protocol a month before we got married. This is not a top-down period imposed by priests, but we did it on the occasion of the announcement fee, i.e. a public announcement by the parish priest of the intention to marry given members of the community of the faithful. I must admit that the fact of writing down the protocol made us very nervous due to the very tone of the conversation with the priest. First, we took an oath to tell the truth, and then we answered the priest’s questions separately.

I was afraid that the wrong answer – crossed out marriage.

We were asked according to several categories. The first concerned personal data, the next one was a marital impediment, then the defects of the declaration of will to marry, then we talked about mixed marriages and about parents. Finally, we had a short conversation with the priests.

I was nervous when the priest asked about the divorce issue

Divorce was the most confusing question for me. The priest asked if there were any reasons to end the marriage, would we do it. This question froze the blood in our veins, we looked at each other and loudly said no. The priest did not hide that this was the answer he expected. Fortunately, other questions were easily answered. We approached it seriously, because we knew that this canonical protocol is such an examination of engaged couples and, as a church document, is very important in the context of the marriage annulment process and thanks to it the situation of the bridegrooms before the marriage becomes clear. Now that it’s over, I remember it with a smile on my face. I have to admit it’s an interesting experience.