Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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CANONICAL FORM

The requisite conditions for a valid marriage in which one or both parties are Catholic. For the marriage of a Catholic to be valid, there must be present: 1. a bishop or a parish priest in his parish or another priest duly delegated, and 2. two witnesses. A dispensation from the canonical form can be obtained for mixed marriages.