Monday, June 16
Liturgical Color: White
Today is the Memorial of the Immaculate
Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast
was first observed in 1942. It commemorates
the closeness of Mary to Jesus, as all the
mysteries of Jesus' life were pondered in
her heart.
Day 183 -Divorce and Remarriage?
What is the Church's stance on people who are divorced and remarried?
She accepts them lovingly, following Jesus' example. Anyone who divorces after being married in the Church and then during the lifetime of the spouse enters into a new union obviously contradicts Jesus' clear demand for the indissolubility of marriage. The Church cannot abolish this demand. This retraction of fidelity is contrary to the Eucharist, in which it is precisely the irrevocable character of God's love that the Church celebrates. That is why someone who lives in such a contradictory situation is not admitted to Holy Communion.
Far from treating all specific cases alike, Pope Benedict XVI speaks about "painful situations" and calls on pastors "to discern different situations carefully, in order to be able to offer appropriate spiritual guidance to the faithful involved". (YOUCAT question 270)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (1665) and other references here.